Jair Bolsonaro, confined to his rented mansion since August, was arrested after security officials detected interference with his electronic ankle monitor. Federal police suspected the former president, who is awaiting a 27-year prison sentence, was preparing to flee the country to avoid justice for orchestrating a failed coup.
During a custody hearing, Bolsonaro denied any plan to escape. He instead claimed that a “psychotic attack” caused by a mix of prescription drugs led him to believe the monitor was a secret listening device. He admitted to using a soldering iron on the device in his delusional state.
Political analysts have reacted with significant skepticism, especially since this bizarre excuse replaces his prior, less dramatic claim that he acted merely “out of curiosity.” The complex, medical defense is widely viewed as a convenient legal strategy.