Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.