Bolsonaro Claims “Listening Device” in Ankle Bracelet, Denies Escape Attempt
A federal examination is underway following teh arrest of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, with claims emerging that he believed his electronic ankle monitor contained a hidden listening device. The allegations, made by a close ally, seek too counter suspicions that Bolsonaro attempted to tamper with the device to facilitate a potential escape.
Bolsonaro was arrested Saturday morning and taken to a special cell at the Federal Police Superintendence, following a decision citing a vigil organized by his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, and the attempted circumvention of his electronic monitoring as justification for the preventative measure. This arrest does not constitute the begining of his sentence.
According to a statement released Saturday, Federal deputy Bia Kicis (PL-DF) asserted that Bolsonaro “thought there was a ‘listening’ installed on the electronic ankle bracelet he used.” Kicis further stated that the former president was “under the influence of very strong medicines” and emphatically denied any intention of escaping custody.
Kicis detailed that Bolsonaro reportedly heard an unusual noise emanating from the ankle monitor,prompting him to attempt to open it. “The anklet started making a noise, he found it strange, he thought there might be a bug in that anklet. So, he tried to open it,” she reported. She insisted that Bolsonaro did not attempt to remove the device entirely. “He could have cut the bracelet, which is not iron, but he didn’t try to take it off; he wanted to open it to see what was inside.”
The parliamentarian emphasized Bolsonaro’s fragile emotional state. “He is under the influence of very strong medication. So, it is indeed clear that he is shaken, not only physically, but emotionally,” she said. She also revealed that the federal Police (PF) replaced the equipment following the incident.”After the Federal Police entered his house and changed his ankle bracelet […] he did not deny that he tried to open it with a hot soldering iron,” she declared.
Kicis characterized bolsonaro’s actions as driven by “curiosity.” “He wanted to know what was happening with the ankle bracelet,” she shared.
Adding a layer of political contention, Kicis insinuated that the timing of the arrest order, authorized by Supreme Federal Court (STF) minister Alexandre de Moraes, was deliberately orchestrated. She pointed to the fact that the request from the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) was dated the 21st, while Moraes’ order was signed on the 22nd – a date coinciding with Bolsonaro’s political party number. “It’s another way for Alexandre, sarcastic as he is, sadistic as he is, to wont the prison to be released on the 22nd, which is Bolsonaro’s party number,” she emphasized.
Bolsonaro currently has the right to submit one final appeal to the STF by Monday, February 26th. Only after this appeal is rejected would he begin serving his 27-year and three-month prison sentence for leading an attempted coup d’état.
A custody hearing is scheduled for noon on Sunday, February 25th, to verify the legality and regularity of the detention process. Bolsonaro will participate remotely, and the proceedings will not be publicly broadcast. The session will be overseen by an assistant judge from Minister Moraes’ office.
the situation remains fluid as legal challenges unfold and further details emerge regarding the circumstances surrounding Bolsonaro’s arrest and the allegations of tampering with his electronic monitoring device.
