Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president convicted of plotting a coup, has blamed medicine-induced paranoia for damage he caused to his ankle monitor - a day after he was removed from house arrest into detention.
At a hearing in Brasília, he admitted trying to open the monitor with a soldering iron on Friday until he came to his senses, court documents show. He stated he had no intention of fleeing.
Officials say the right-wing politician, 70, was taken into custody because he was a flight risk ahead of a supporters' vigil outside his home. He will remain in detention.
In September, Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for the coup plot.
Bolsonaro is being held in a police station in the capital. His legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Supreme Court justices cited his knowledge of a plot that included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, and to arrest and execute a judge overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy failed to gain support from military commanders, allowing Lula's peaceful inauguration on January 1, 2023. However, shortly after, a riot by Bolsonaro supporters led to major unrest and numerous arrests.
The justices held that Bolsonaro had instigated the riot, planning to have the military intervene for his return to power. As a result, he has been barred from public office until 2060, eight years after his sentence ends.
Bolsonaro has labeled the trial a witch hunt aimed at thwarting his political aspirations for the 2026 presidential campaign.
