Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has claimed that hallucinations brought on by medication convinced him his ankle monitor was bugged, prompting him to damage it.
He made the statement during a custody hearing held after his arrest at home. Authorities detained him when they detected tampering with the device, suspecting he was preparing to flee.
Bolsonaro has been awaiting imprisonment following his conviction for organizing a coup attempt. With a 27-year sentence pending, any unusual activity triggered immediate alarm.
During the hearing, Bolsonaro explained that he had been taking a powerful painkiller and an antidepressant, which he said caused a sudden break from reality. Believing the device was compromised, he used a hand tool to open it.
Political commentators were sceptical of his story, citing previous remarks in which he offered a different explanation. Responses from international figures were also relatively muted.