Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of planning a military coup in September and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
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 authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.
