The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a military coup in September and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, leading him to enact a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. His successor was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national 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 provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.
