Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. His successor was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons 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, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.
