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 sentenced of plotting a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of the former president's move to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.