Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
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 requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, many his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
