Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro found himself explaining to a judge on Sunday why he tampered with his ankle monitoring device while under house arrest, attributing the violation to severe hallucinations and a nervous breakdown triggered by medication changes.
Medical Crisis or Escape Attempt?
According to Supreme Court documents, the far-right leader appeared before Justice Alexandre de Moraes on his first full day in jail, claiming he experienced disturbing hallucinations that made him believe there was a wire tap inside his ankle monitor. Bolsonaro stated he "did not remember having a breakdown of this magnitude in another occasion" during his meeting with assistant judge Luciana Sorrentino.
The crisis unfolded when the monitoring device registered a violation at 12:08 am on Saturday, prompting immediate judicial action. Justice Moraes ordered the preventive jailing of the 70-year-old former president, citing him as a significant flight risk given his recent conviction.
Behind the Ankle Monitor Incident
Court documents reveal fascinating details about the Saturday night incident. Bolsonaro described experiencing "a certain paranoia" that stimulated his curiosity about the monitoring device. He claimed to have started touching and attempting to open the device late at night, continuing until approximately midnight.
Surprisingly, Bolsonaro was in the company of his daughter, elder brother, and an aide during the entire episode, yet none of them noticed his actions against the monitoring equipment. The former president repeatedly denied any intention to escape house arrest, insisting the behavior resulted entirely from his altered mental state.
Medical Support and Judicial Proceedings
Two of Bolsonaro's doctors came forward on Sunday morning with a statement confirming they had suspended the medication allegedly responsible for the former president's distress. The medical professionals affirmed that Bolsonaro remains "physically well" despite the psychological episode.
The legal backdrop dates to September when a Supreme Court panel ruled that Bolsonaro attempted to stage a coup to retain presidency after his 2022 electoral defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The court sentenced him to 27 years in prison for his actions challenging the democratic process.
Monday brings another critical development as the same judicial panel will vote on the preventive arrest order. Bolsonaro's legal team continues to argue for house arrest based on health concerns, though Justice Moraes has previously rejected similar requests.
Current President Lula made his first comments about his predecessor's jailing during the G20 meeting in South Africa, simply stating: "The court ruled, that's decided. Everyone knows what he did."
The political drama extends beyond the courtroom, with pro-Bolsonaro protesters gathering outside federal police headquarters demanding Lula and Moraes be removed from their positions. Meanwhile, anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations erupted in several Brazilian cities, including São Paulo where a giant plastic doll of the former president dressed as an inmate paraded through the streets.
