Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.
This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of the former president's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
