Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of the former president's move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that he be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.
