Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers 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 diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also requested that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, Brasília.
The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.
