Jair Bolsonaro attempted to explain his damaged ankle monitor by claiming that a sudden wave of paranoia caused by medication convinced him the device was bugged.
Police arrested the former leader at dawn after security officials discovered the tampering and suspected an escape attempt. Bolsonaro, convicted for attempting a coup, has been living under house arrest as he awaits imprisonment.
Authorities acted swiftly after receiving an alert about the damaged equipment. A Supreme Court judge ordered the arrest, citing fears Bolsonaro might flee to a foreign embassy.
At the hearing, Bolsonaro said he had recently begun taking a strong painkiller and an antidepressant. He claimed the combination triggered hallucinations that made him distrust the monitoring device.
Critics doubted the explanation, pointing to earlier statements that contradicted his courtroom testimony. International reactions were muted, signaling a weakening of political support.