On his first day in jail, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro claimed that “hallucinations” and a nervous breakdown led him to tamper with his ankle monitor, resulting in his arrest for violating house arrest.
According to a Supreme Court document, Bolsonaro told a judge he experienced delusions that the device contained a wiretap, prompting him to try to open it. He attributed the episode to a recent change in his medication and reported feeling “a certain paranoia” and insomnia. His doctors later confirmed they had suspended a medication they said caused the issue.
The incident prompted Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to order Bolsonaro’s preemptive detention on Saturday, citing a flight risk. The former leader was sentenced in September to 27 years for attempting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 electoral defeat.
While Bolsonaro’s lawyers have repeatedly argued for house arrest due to his health, de Moraes has consistently denied such requests. The court panel is set to vote on the arrest order Monday.
The jailing has intensified Brazil’s political divisions. Supporters protested outside the detention facility, while critics in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro celebrated the incarceration of the far-right leader.
By James Kisoo
