Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces renewed legal turmoil after his dramatic arrest in Brasília over the weekend for tampering with his electronic monitoring device. The incident occurred just days before the Supreme Court prepares to vote on whether to uphold his pre-emptive detention.
The Arrest and Conflicting Explanations
Security officials detected unusual activity on Bolsonaro's ankle monitor shortly after midnight on Saturday, prompting immediate action. Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the arrest, expressing concerns that the former leader might attempt to flee to a foreign embassy before beginning his 27-year sentence.
Bolsonaro initially claimed he was merely inspecting the device, but surveillance footage showed him using a soldering iron that severely damaged the monitor's cap. He insisted he wasn't attempting to escape and said the incident occurred late at home while his daughter, elder brother, and an aide were present.
Medical Claims and Legal Proceedings
During court proceedings, assistant judge Luciana Sorrentino revealed that Bolsonaro reported suffering from hallucinations and paranoia after starting a strong painkiller and antidepressant regimen. According to Supreme Court documents, the 70-year-old claimed he believed the monitor contained "some wire tap" and tried to uncover it.
Bolsonaro stated he did "not remember having a breakdown of this magnitude before" and denied planning to flee from his rented mansion, where he has been under house arrest since August. However, political observers have questioned his shifting accounts, especially since footage shows him telling security officials he had interfered with the device earlier than initially claimed.
Legal Consequences and Ongoing Drama
Federal police executed the arrest order around 6 am on Saturday and transferred Bolsonaro to a federal police base, where he remains detained. His lawyers have repeatedly requested his return to house arrest on health grounds, but Justice de Moraes has consistently rejected these appeals.
The detention comes at a critical juncture, just before Bolsonaro was expected to begin serving his 27-year, three-month sentence for attempting to block President Lula from taking office after the 2022 election. Although convicted in September, he hadn't received a final arrest warrant while some appeals were pending. The former president remains barred from running for public office until 2030.
In a small concession, Justice de Moraes did authorize a visit from former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro. The Supreme Court's Monday vote will determine whether the former leader remains in custody or returns to house arrest as his legal battles continue.
