Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the moment, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
