Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.
