Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
He was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. His successor was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.
