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Jair Bolsonaro told the court that he tampered with his ankle monitor because he was hallucinating—an effect he blamed on recently prescribed medication.
Authorities arrested him after detecting damage to the device. They feared he was preparing to escape into diplomatic protection.
Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since his conviction for orchestrating a coup attempt. His long prison sentence was expected to begin soon.
During the hearing, Bolsonaro said a painkiller and an antidepressant triggered paranoia. Acting under this delusion, he used a hand tool to try to dismantle the device.
Political observers expressed skepticism, noting inconsistencies with previous remarks. International reactions were notably subdued.
