The legal and political saga of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took a dramatic turn after he was arrested by federal police and subsequently claimed a drug-induced “psychotic episode” led him to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor. The 70-year-old, who faces a 27-year prison sentence for orchestrating a failed coup, made the extraordinary claim during a custody hearing held in Brasília to determine the circumstances of his recent apprehension.
Bolsonaro had been confined to his rented mansion under house arrest since August, following his Supreme Court conviction in September. His latest troubles began when security officials raised the alarm after detecting evidence that his court-mandated tracking equipment had been intentionally interfered with. This breach led authorities to suspect that the former president was actively planning to escape his sentence by fleeing to a foreign embassy.
During the intense court proceedings, the former leader forcefully denied any intention to escape. Instead, he presented a defense centered on his temporary mental state, testifying that a powerful combination of a painkiller and an antidepressant triggered a state of paranoia and vivid hallucinations. He admitted he was convinced the ankle monitor was a covert listening device, leading him to grab a soldering iron and damage the equipment.