The 70-year-old former President Jair Bolsonaro is using a controversial medical defense for tampering with his electronic ankle monitor: a drug-induced “psychotic attack.” He testified that a combination of a strong painkiller and an antidepressant caused hallucinations, convincing him the device was secretly recording him.
Bolsonaro’s testimony came during a custody hearing one day after federal police arrested him at his Brasília residence on suspicion he was planning to flee Brazil. Authorities believed the interference with his tracking equipment was a clear sign of preparations to escape his 27-year prison sentence. He denied all escape plans in court.
Political analysts are treating the hallucination claim with skepticism, noting its inconsistency with his previous excuse of acting “out of curiosity.” His credibility is severely questioned by the shifting narrative.
