Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the detention, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the moment, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.