Jailhouse Shock: Brazil's Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro Confronts Life Behind Bars

He fought justice and the law triumphed.

Two months subsequent to getting a 27-year sentence for attempting to “eradicate” Brazil’s democracy, one-time leader Jair Bolsonaro at last appears headed to prison.

Anticipated Jailing

The found-guilty plotter – who has been living under home confinement in his residence while a set of legal procedures and appeals proceed – is largely predicted to be incarcerated in the next few days, amidst growing speculation that he will be transferred to a well-known top-security prison.

Previous Remarks on Convicts

Over Bolsonaro’s four-decade political career, the conservative former soldier exhibited little compassion for the country's inmates.

“What’s the need to offer those scoundrels a easy time?” he once mused. “They deserve to be messed, end of story. That's my opinion.”

In another instance, Bolsonaro stated: “If you don’t want to finish in prison, all you have to do is to avoid rape, kidnap or rob.”

Jail Location Debate

But the prospect of Bolsonaro himself landing in the Papuda top-security prison in Brasília has horrified backers, a group of four this week toured the complex in an obvious attempt to prevent the supreme court from banishing him there.

The senator, a lawmaker from Bolsonaro’s allied group who was among that group, stated he expected the septuagenarian leader to be jailed in the next 10 days and worried his destination could be Papuda.

Lucas claimed Bolsonaro’s serious digestive problems – the consequence of a near-fatal knife attack during the last election race – implied it would be dangerous to keep the ex-leader there. “His [health] situation is extremely serious. He will not be able to handle it if they take him to Papuda … It will be terrible,” he added, who also worried about packed cells and the quality of prison meals.

When inspecting Papuda, Lucas recalled witnessing cells accommodating 40 detainees: “That’s almost one meter squared per prisoner.

“We talked to the prisoners and they protest, naturally, of the terrible food,” remarked the senator.

Allies React

The senator isn't the lone figure voicing opinions before the one-time head of state's anticipated incarceration.

Writing in a prominent daily, another ally, the former government official Fábio Wajngarten, deplored the “harsh” conclusion to Bolsonaro’s “impeccable” time in office and claimed Brazil was about to experience “the largest political injustice in its history”.

“This is an injustice that gnaws the spirits of many Brazilian citizens,” he stated.

Divided Public Response

It is possibly true given the significant support Bolsonaro maintains on the right-wing. However his predicted imprisonment has also warmed the feelings of numerous others who believe he should be jailed for conspiring to prevent the elected leader from taking power – and additionally conspiring to have him murdered.

Congressman Otoni, a politician for the current leader's political party, commented: “Nobody desires Bolsonaro to be sent in a hole. Not a soul wants Bolsonaro to be sent in solitary confinement. Not a soul wishes Bolsonaro to go hungry or for him to have to sleep on the floor. We desire him to receive proper treatment – but respectful treatment in prison. He cannot persist being his self-appointed guard for his entire life.”

He observed how Bolsonaro supporters, who have spent years praising the tough handling of inmates, had abruptly become aware to their privileges. “Just now has the conservative fringe – which has consistently claimed that human rights should not be for criminals – opted to inspect a penitentiary to learn what conditions are really like,” he said.

“Bolsonaro is a criminal,” Otoni insisted, but that did not mean he merited “humiliating, demeaning treatment”.

Potential Prison Facilities

Regardless of rumors that Bolsonaro could be moved to Papuda, which now houses about thousands of prisoners, his more likely assigned facility appears to be a adjacent prison for officers and other “particular” prisoners known as Papudinha (Little Papuda).

His potential cell are considerably more adequate than those in the main prison, although nevertheless a world away from the opulence Bolsonaro experienced while living in the spectacular leader's home, about a short distance away.

According to sources, the accommodation Bolsonaro could anticipate reside in in Papudinha has about 260 square feet – approximately the dimensions of two parking spaces – and contains a 12 sq metre restroom with a water facility and a 12 sq metre terrace. “Bolsonaro would be authorized to have a television and also a small fridge in his cell as long as they were donated by his family,” sources indicated.

Partisan Reactions

The lawmaker denounced the rumoured proposal to send the ex-president to Papuda as “a form of payback” on the part of the supreme court judge who oversaw Bolsonaro’s coup trial and will rule on his fate in the {

Ms. Emily Craig
Ms. Emily Craig

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino strategy and player psychology.