Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of his transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
