Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the custody, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
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 the weekend.
The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.
