The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The ex-president was convicted of plotting a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of his "relocation to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the period, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.
