Jair Bolsonaro claimed during a custody hearing that a reaction to newly prescribed medication led him to damage his ankle monitor. He said he believed the device was bugged during a moment of severe paranoia.
The former president was arrested at dawn after security systems flagged tampering. Courts had feared he might seek refuge in a foreign embassy to avoid incarceration for leading a failed coup.
Bolsonaro has been held under house arrest for months, awaiting transfer to prison. His 27-year sentence was expected to be enforced soon, which made the security breach particularly alarming to authorities.
During his testimony, Bolsonaro said a painkiller and an antidepressant triggered hallucinations that convinced him the monitor was listening to him. Acting on that belief, he attempted to dismantle the device with a soldering tool.
Observers expressed scepticism, referencing prior video evidence where Bolsonaro admitted tampering out of “curiosity.” International allies have also softened their stance, providing limited reactions to the arrest.