Jair Bolsonaro’s defense for tampering with his electronic ankle monitor has undergone a dramatic revision, shifting from an earlier claim of simple “curiosity” to a full-blown “psychotic attack.” The former president told a custody hearing that a drug-induced episode caused hallucinations, making him believe the device was a secret recording tool.
This hearing took place one day after his arrest by federal police, who suspected Bolsonaro was preparing an escape to a foreign embassy to avoid his 27-year prison sentence for a failed coup. The detection of interference with his tracking equipment was the primary cause of his apprehension.
Political analysts are treating the conflicting narratives with extreme skepticism, pointing out the major discrepancy in his accounts. The former president admitted to using a soldering iron in an attempt to disable the device before he “snapped out of it.”