Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, was arrested by federal police at his Brasília residence, following suspicions that he was planning to flee the country. The arrest was triggered by security officials detecting interference with his electronic ankle monitor, which they interpreted as a preparatory move to escape his 27-year prison sentence.
In a custody hearing, Bolsonaro denied any escape attempt. Instead, he claimed the device tampering was the result of a drug-induced “psychotic attack,” caused by a mix of painkillers and antidepressants. He testified that the episode caused hallucinations and paranoia, convincing him the monitor was secretly recording him.
He admitted to then using a soldering iron to physically damage the device. The bizarre explanation has been met with skepticism, especially because he had previously claimed his actions were driven by mere “curiosity.”
