The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a military coup in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, the capital city.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, 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 banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.
