Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of plotting a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the judge said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.
