Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro said he damaged his tracking monitor because paranoia brought on by medication made him believe it was bugged.
His arrest followed a security alert showing evidence of tampering. Officials suspected he was preparing to flee to a foreign embassy ahead of his prison term.
Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since being convicted for masterminding a failed coup. His 27-year sentence had been expected to begin within days.
During Sunday’s hearing, he said a powerful painkiller and an antidepressant triggered hallucinations. Under this delusion, he attempted to pry open the monitor.
Experts doubted his explanation, given inconsistencies with earlier statements. International reactions were muted, offering little support to the former leader.