Jair Bolsonaro Detained for Allegedly Tampering with Ankle Monitor

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s ex-President, was detained by police on Saturday after he reportedly tampered with his electronic ankle monitor, an act he attributes to paranoia and hallucinations spurred by prescribed medication.

At 70 years old, the controversial leader is currently serving a 27-year sentence for conspiring to overturn the 2022 election and had been under house arrest for over 100 days in Brasilia. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized his detention, citing concerns of potential flight.

During a brief hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro denied any intention to flee, stating that his actions were linked to the side effects of anticonvulsant medication prescribed for persistent hiccups, which led him to believe that the ankle monitor contained surveillance devices. He allegedly tried to alter the device with a soldering iron, but reported the situation to the authorities shortly thereafter.

The former president was alone during the incident, with family members and his adviser asleep. According to court documents, he “came to his senses” and halted his actions without any complications. Despite this, the judge deemed it necessary to keep him detained, confirming that police had operated within legal parameters.

Bolsonaro is now held in a compact 12-square-meter cell at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, which is equipped with a bed, television, air conditioning, and its own bathroom. His legal team has submitted a request for a “humanitarian house arrest” due to his age, health issues, and previous hospitalizations following a stabbing incident during the 2018 election campaign.

Supporters of Bolsonaro gathered outside the police station, voicing their discontent and labeling the arrest as politically motivated. Demonstrator Alessandro Almeida stated, “He hasn’t committed any crime. It’s simply a political persecution.”

Meanwhile, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended the Supreme Court's decision during the G20 summit, asserting that the presumption of innocence is upheld and that Bolsonaro will face the full extent of the legal sentence imposed by the court.