Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.
