The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of the former president's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will experience 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 complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.
