Jair Bolsonaro claimed that his decision to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor was made while he was under the influence of a strong painkiller and an antidepressant. He testified that the drug-induced hallucinations and paranoia convinced him the device was secretly recording him, resulting in a “psychotic attack.”
The former president was arrested after federal police detected interference with his tracking equipment, suspecting he was planning to flee Brazil for a foreign embassy to avoid his 27-year prison sentence for a failed coup. Bolsonaro firmly denied any plan to escape in court.
Political observers are highly skeptical of his dramatic, medically-based defense, noting its contradiction with his earlier claim of acting “out of curiosity.” His testimony has added a layer of personal and medical controversy to his legal situation.