Bolsonaro's 'Hallucinations' Lead to Jail Break Attempt, Former President Claims Poor Health

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Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest, made a shocking claim in a judge's meeting on Sunday. He attributed his decision to tamper with his ankle monitoring device to a nervous breakdown and hallucinations, allegedly caused by a change in his medication. The incident occurred on Saturday, prompting Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to order Bolsonaro's preemptive jailing due to concerns over his flight risk. According to an assistant judge, Bolsonaro claimed to have experienced 'hallucinations' that his ankle monitor was being tapped, leading him to investigate further. He later denied any intention to escape and attributed his actions to a combination of poor sleep and paranoia. The 70-year-old leader's sentence to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 electoral defeat was handed down in September. A panel of Brazil's Supreme Court will vote on Monday to uphold or reject the arrest order. Bolsonaro's meeting with the assistant judge was a procedural step to discuss the legality of his jailing, but also provided an opportunity for his lawyers to argue that he should remain under house arrest due to his poor health. Supreme Court Justice de Moraes has previously rejected similar requests. The jailing of Bolsonaro has sparked a mix of reactions, with some pro-Bolsonaro protesters calling for the removal of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Justice de Moraes, while detractors celebrated the former president's imprisonment. Lula made his first comments on the matter at the G20 meeting in South Africa, stating that the court's decision is final and that everyone is aware of Bolsonaro's actions.