In a dramatic custody hearing held after his arrest, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro revealed his defense for damaging his electronic ankle monitor: a drug-induced “psychotic attack” caused by a mix of prescription medications. He told the court that the episode led him to hallucinate that the monitor was secretly recording him.
Federal police arrested Bolsonaro at his residence, motivated by signs of interference with the tracking equipment, which led them to suspect he was preparing to flee to a foreign embassy. He faces a 27-year prison sentence for orchestrating a failed coup and has been confined to his rented mansion since August.
He maintained in court that he had no plan to escape. Political analysts immediately noted the stark difference between this complex story and his earlier claim of acting “out of curiosity,” fueling intense skepticism regarding the veracity of his latest defense.
Custody Hearing Drama: Bolsonaro Reveals Hallucinations as Defense for Damaged Monitor
