Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, the capital city.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
