Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has told a judge that hallucinations caused by a change in his medication led him to tamper with his ankle monitoring device while under house arrest. The far-right leader, convicted for his role in a foiled coup attempt following the 2022 election, was taken into custody after allegedly using a soldering iron on the device.

Bolsonaro Claims Medication-Induced Paranoia

During a custody hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro explained to a Supreme Court judge that a new medication caused “paranoia” and hallucinations, prompting him to attempt to dismantle the ankle tag.

“He said he had ‘hallucinations’ that there was some wiretap in the ankle monitoring, so he tried to uncover it,” stated Assistant Judge Luciana Sorrentino in a court document published after the online hearing.

Bolsonaro denied that he intended to flee and attributed the incident to taking a mix of medicines prescribed by different doctors. He noted that he had started one of the medications only four days prior to his detention.

“Around midnight, he tampered with the ankle bracelet, then ‘came to his senses’ and stopped using the soldering iron, at which point he informed the officers in charge of his custody,” the court record said.

Legal Context: Bolsonaro’s House Arrest

Bolsonaro had been under house arrest while appealing a 27-year and three-month prison sentence handed down by a Supreme Court panel in September. The ruling concluded that Bolsonaro attempted to stage a military coup to retain the presidency after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Bolsonaro’s detention after receiving information at 12:08 a.m. (03:08 GMT) on Saturday indicating the ankle monitor had been tampered with, classifying him as a potential flight risk.

Court Proceedings and Health Concerns

Sunday’s hearing was largely procedural but provided an opportunity for Bolsonaro’s lawyers to argue that his house arrest should continue due to health concerns. De Moraes has previously rejected similar requests. A panel of the Supreme Court is scheduled to vote on the pre-emptive arrest order on Monday.

President Lula Responds

Brazilian President Lula da Silva commented on Bolsonaro’s detention at a G20 meeting in South Africa, emphasizing the legitimacy of the court’s decision.

“The court ruled, that’s decided. Everyone knows what he did,” Lula told journalists.

Implications for Brazil’s Political Climate

The incident underscores the ongoing political tension in Brazil, where Bolsonaro remains a highly polarizing figure. His claims of medication-induced hallucinations add a medical dimension to the legal proceedings, but do not alter the Supreme Court’s assessment of his actions during the attempted coup.

Analysts note that Bolsonaro’s house arrest and subsequent arrest for tampering with the ankle monitor could influence public perception ahead of upcoming political events and elections, as well as ongoing debates about presidential accountability and judicial oversight in Brazil.