Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brasília.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.
