Jair Bolsonaro says paranoia led to damaged ankle monitor

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president who was convicted of plotting a coup, blamed drug-induced “paranoia” for injuries caused by an ankle monitor – a day after he was released from house arrest and moved into detention.

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

Officials said the 70-year-old right-wing politician was detained because he was a flight risk before supporters held a vigil outside his home. He will remain in custody.

September, Bolsonaro sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for a coup plot.

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

His legal woes have drawn the ire of right-wing populist U.S. President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports.

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy to keep himself in power after losing the 2022 election to left-wing rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The Supreme Court judge said he knew of a plot that included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate Gerardo Alckmin, as well as capture and execute Moraes, who had been overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial.

The plot failed to gain support from army and air force commanders. Lula was successfully sworn in 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 step in and return him to power.

Bolsonaro is also banned from running for office until 2060, eight years after serving his sentence.

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