Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the moment, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
