Bolsonaro Detained After Alleged Ankle Monitor Tampering

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro found himself in police custody on Saturday after allegedly tampering with his electronic ankle monitor, claiming the act was induced by paranoia and hallucinations from his prescribed medication.

The 70-year-old right-wing figure, currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup against the 2022 election results, has been under house arrest in Brasilia for over 100 days. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered his detention, citing a flight risk.

During a 30-minute hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro denied any intentions to flee, attributing the incident to the effects of anticonvulsant medications meant for chronic hiccups. He claimed these drugs led him to believe that the ankle monitor contained listening devices. He reportedly attempted to tamper with it using a soldering iron, but ultimately informed authorities.

At the time of the incident, Bolsonaro was alone; his family members, including his daughter and older brother, were asleep. Reports stated he quickly "came to his senses" and ceased tampering without further incident. Nonetheless, a judge decided to keep him detained, declaring that law enforcement acted appropriately.

Presently, Bolsonaro is confined to a 12-square-meter cell at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, equipped with a bed, television, air conditioning, and a private bathroom. His legal team is pushing for "humanitarian house arrest" due to his age, health issues, and a history of hospitalizations after a stabbing incident during the 2018 election campaign.

Outside the police headquarters, Bolsonaro’s supporters demonstrated vehemently, viewing his arrest as a political attack. “He hasn’t committed any crime. It’s simply political persecution,” protested Alessandro Almeida, one of the demonstrators.

In a contrasting stance, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended the Supreme Court's decision at the G20 summit, affirming that the presumption of innocence was respected and that Bolsonaro would face the sentence handed down by the judiciary.