Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro appears in court as the Supreme Court upholds his detention for tampering with his electronic ankle monitor.
Brazil’s Supreme Court on Monday upheld the detention of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was arrested over the weekend for tampering with his electronic monitoring device.
Bolsonaro was taken into custody on Saturday from his residence, where he had been serving house arrest after being declared a flight risk while appealing his 27-year sentence for attempting to overturn the 2022 election results and plotting to block President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled that Bolsonaro had “willfully and consciously violated the electronic monitoring equipment,” after investigators said he used a soldering iron to damage the ankle bracelet.
All three other justices in the court’s first chamber voted in favour of the decision, making the detention official when the virtual session concluded at 8:00 pm local time (2300 GMT).
Justice Moraes also noted “very serious indications of a possible attempt to flee,” citing the proximity of Bolsonaro’s home to the United States embassy and his longstanding ties with former US President Donald Trump, raising concerns that he intended to seek political asylum.
During a court hearing on Sunday in Brasilia, Bolsonaro claimed he was experiencing “paranoia” related to medication and insisted he had no intention of fleeing. He also denied breaking the bracelet strap.
However, video evidence released by the court showed the ankle monitor badly burned and damaged, though still attached.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers have requested that he be returned to “humanitarian house arrest,” citing a “state of mental confusion” allegedly caused by medications. One appeal against his conviction has already been dismissed, and his legal team has until midnight Monday to file another challenge.
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