Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president convicted of plotting a coup, attributed damage to his ankle monitor to medicine-induced “paranoia,” a day after being transferred from house arrest to detention.
During a hearing in Brasília, court documents reveal he admitted to attempting to open the monitor with a soldering iron on Friday until he “came to his senses,” asserting he had no intention of fleeing the country.
Officials stated that the 70-year-old right-wing politician was taken into custody due to concerns he posed a flight risk, particularly with a supporters’ vigil planned outside his residence. He is expected to remain in detention.
In September, Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for his role in the coup plot.
Bolsonaro is currently being held at a police station in the capital city.
His legal predicaments have garnered attention from fellow right-wing populist, former US President Donald Trump, who previously imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports.
Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining power after losing the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to Supreme Court justices, he was aware of a plot that involved assassinating Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, along with arresting and executing Moraes, who has been overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial.
Ultimately, the conspiracy failed to secure the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without incident on January 1, 2023.
However, a week later, on January 8, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, prompting intervention by security forces and the arrest of approximately 1,500 individuals.
The justices determined that the rioters were incited by Bolsonaro, alleging his plan involved military intervention to reinstate him to power.
Bolsonaro has also been barred from holding public office until 2060 – eight years after the conclusion of his prison sentence.
The former president has characterized the trial as a “witch hunt” designed to prevent him from running in the 2026 presidential election.
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