Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by him 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 over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.
