Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded 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 last fall and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also requested that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, the capital city.
The security forces stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army 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 extremely harsh.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
