Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.
This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo 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 authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and return him to office.
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 the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.
