Jair Bolsonaro says ankle monitor damage caused by paranoia

Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president convicted of plotting a coup, has blamed drug-induced “paranoia” for the damage he caused to his ankle monitor – a day after he was moved from house arrest to detention.

At a hearing in Brasilia, he admitted to trying to open the screen with a soldering iron on Friday until he “came to his senses,” court documents show. He said he had no intention of fleeing.

Officials say the right-wing politician, 70, was detained because he was a flight risk ahead of a vigil for his supporters outside his home. He will remain in detention.

In September, Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison For a coup plot.

Bolsonaro is being held in a police station in the capital.

His legal troubles have angered right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after losing the 2022 elections to his leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said he knew of a plot that included plans to assassinate Lula and his deputy Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Moraes, who was overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial.

The plot failed to gain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia. Security forces intervened and about 1,500 people were arrested.

The judges found that the rioters were incited by Bolsonaro, whose plan they said was for the military to intervene and return him to power.

Bolsonaro was also banned from running for public office until 2060, eight years after the end of his sentence.

The former president described the trial as a “witch hunt” aimed at preventing him from running in the 2026 presidential elections.