Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the next presidential race.
