Bolsonaro Claims 'Hallucinations' Led to Ankle Monitor Tampering Amid Arrest & Coup Case; Denies Escape Attempt

Bolsonaro Cites "Hallucinations" in Ankle Monitor Tampering Defense Amid Arrest

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is once again at the center of a political storm, claiming "hallucinations" compelled him to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor. This revelation comes swiftly after his arrest in Brasília, as Brazil's Supreme Court prepares to deliberate on the legitimacy of his pre-emptive detention.

Arrest and Allegations of Escape Risk

Bolsonaro, aged 70, was taken into custody early Saturday after security personnel detected unauthorized interference with his monitoring device just past midnight. Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the arrest, citing significant concerns that the former head of state might attempt to flee to a foreign embassy. This apprehension arises as Bolsonaro faces the imminent commencement of a 27-year sentence, handed down in September for his alleged role in a plot to overturn the results of the 2022 general election.

Currently under house arrest at his rented mansion since August, Bolsonaro vehemently denies any intention of escape. At a recent judicial hearing, Assistant Judge Luciana Sorrentino conveyed Bolsonaro's explanation, where he attributed his actions to episodes of hallucinations and paranoia. He claimed these symptoms manifested after he began a new regimen involving strong painkillers and an antidepressant.

Conflicting Accounts and Scrutiny

According to a Supreme Court document, Bolsonaro suggested he believed the monitor might contain a "wiretap" and attempted to uncover it. He also reportedly stated he could not recall "having a breakdown of this magnitude before." Initially, surveillance footage showed him explaining to officials that he merely wished to inspect the device, using a soldering iron that caused considerable damage to its cap. He consistently maintained that he was not attempting to escape and that the incident occurred late one evening at home, witnessed by his daughter, elder brother, and an aide. He stated he ceased tampering around midnight.

However, this evolving narrative has been met with skepticism from political analysts and opponents. Crucially, video evidence appears to contradict his later statements, showing Bolsonaro admitting to a security official that he had previously interfered with the device.

Ongoing Legal Battle and Political Future

Federal police executed the arrest warrant at approximately 6 AM on Saturday, transferring Bolsonaro to a federal police base, where he remains detained. His legal team has repeatedly petitioned for his return to house arrest on health grounds, a request that Justice De Moraes has consistently rejected. Nevertheless, the justice did grant permission for a visit from former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro.

This latest detention occurs merely days before Bolsonaro was scheduled to begin serving his 27-year, three-month sentence for his efforts to block Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from assuming the presidency. Despite his conviction, a final arrest warrant had not yet been issued, pending various appeals. Bolsonaro faces a ban from running for public office until 2030, marking a significant turn in his political career.