Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of his "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia 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 authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
