The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.
