The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was stopped because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.
