The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was found guilty of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to murder the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
