Bolsonaro Says Drug Side Effects Pushed Him to Damage Tracker

Former president Jair Bolsonaro told a judge he damaged his ankle monitor during a drug-induced hallucination in which he believed the device was secretly recording him.
The explanation followed his arrest early Saturday after officials detected tampering with the monitoring equipment. Authorities feared he might attempt to seek protection at a foreign embassy.
Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since being convicted for leading a coup attempt. His 27-year sentence was expected to begin shortly.
During the hearing, Bolsonaro said he had been taking a strong painkiller and an antidepressant, which he believes triggered acute paranoia. Acting on this belief, he tried to dismantle the device with a tool.
Analysts widely doubted his account, noting prior footage contradicting his testimony. Reactions abroad were low-key, reflecting waning political backing.