Jair Bolsonaro claimed in a court hearing that hallucinations caused by medication pushed him to interfere with his ankle monitor, believing it contained a hidden microphone.
Authorities arrested him early Saturday after the monitoring system signaled suspicious activity. Fearing he might attempt to find refuge in a foreign embassy, police moved swiftly.
Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since a Supreme Court ruling found him guilty of masterminding a failed coup. His 27-year sentence was expected to take effect soon, prompting heightened vigilance.
Bolsonaro said two medications he had recently started—an antidepressant and a painkiller—triggered paranoia. Acting under this delusion, he tried to open the device with a heated tool.
Skepticism followed, as footage from earlier that day showed Bolsonaro giving a very different explanation. International reactions were similarly muted, reflecting reduced political backing.
Former President Says Hallucinations Drove Him to Damage Ankle Tag
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