Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has offered a remarkable explanation to a Supreme Court judge regarding his alleged tampering with an electronic ankle monitor. Bolsonaro claimed that "hallucinations" and "paranoia," brought on by a recent change in his medication, compelled him to attempt to dismantle the device using a soldering iron. This incident occurred while he was under house arrest, appealing a conviction for an attempted coup.
Medication-Induced Paranoia Leads to Incident
During a custody hearing held on Sunday, the far-right ex-leader detailed his experience to Assistant Judge Luciana Sorrentino. According to court documents published after the online proceeding, Bolsonaro believed the ankle monitor contained a wiretap due to these drug-induced episodes. He admitted to tampering with the device around midnight but stated he later "came to his senses" and informed his custody officers.
Bolsonaro's detention on Saturday followed police reports that he had violated the ankle tag, raising concerns that he might be a flight risk. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes swiftly ordered the arrest after receiving information about the violation early Saturday morning. Bolsonaro, however, vehemently denied any intention to escape, attributing his actions solely to a confused state caused by a new medication regimen, which he had reportedly started just four days prior to the incident.
Legal Battles and Presidential Comments
His legal team used Sunday's procedural meeting to advocate for his return to house arrest, citing poor health. This request, however, faces a challenge as Justice De Moraes has previously dismissed similar pleas. The former president's house arrest stems from a significant ruling in September 2025, where a panel of Brazil's Supreme Court found him guilty of attempting to orchestrate a military coup to retain power after his 2022 election defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He was sentenced to over 27 years in prison, a conviction he is currently appealing.
Amidst these developments, current President Lula da Silva commented on his predecessor's jailing during a Group of 20 (G20) meeting in South Africa. Lula stated, "The court ruled, that’s decided. Everyone knows what he did," indicating a firm stance on the legal process. The Supreme Court panel is scheduled to vote on Bolsonaro's pre-emptive arrest order on Monday.