Bolsonaro Arrested After Tampering With Ankle Monitor

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was placed in police custody on Saturday after allegedly tampering with his electronic ankle monitor, an incident he says was caused by paranoia and hallucinations triggered by prescribed medication.

The 70-year-old right-wing leader, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup to overturn the 2022 election, had been under house arrest in Brasilia for more than 100 days. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes cited flight risk when ordering Bolsonaro’s detention.

During a 30-minute custody hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro denied any intention to escape. He explained that the incident stemmed from a combination of anticonvulsant drugs prescribed for chronic hiccups, which caused him to imagine the ankle device contained listening equipment. He reportedly attempted to tamper with the monitor using a soldering iron but stopped and informed the authorities immediately.

Bolsonaro was alone during the incident, while his daughter, older brother, and adviser were asleep. Court documents noted he “came to his senses” and ceased the tampering without incident. Despite this, the judge ruled to keep him in custody, confirming that police acted within legal bounds.

Currently, Bolsonaro is held in a 12-square-meter cell at federal police headquarters in Brasilia, which includes a bed, TV, air conditioning, and private bathroom. His legal team has requested “humanitarian house arrest” due to his age, health conditions, and history of hospitalizations following a stabbing attack during the 2018 campaign.

Outside the police headquarters, Bolsonaro’s supporters expressed outrage, calling the arrest political persecution. “He hasn’t committed any crime. It’s simply a political persecution,” said Alessandro Almeida, a demonstrator.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, meanwhile, defended the Supreme Court’s ruling during the G20 summit, emphasizing the presumption of innocence had been observed and that Bolsonaro would serve the sentence determined by the court.