Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.
This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the custody, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his child.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday 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 requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
