Prison Surprise: Brazil's FormerPresident Jair Bolsonaro Confronts Time in Prison

He fought justice and the law won.

Two months following being handed a quarter-century plus sentence for trying to “annihilate” Brazil’s democratic institutions, one-time leader Jair Bolsonaro at last appears jail-bound.

Anticipated Jailing

The convicted instigator – who had been under residential detention in his residence while a series of court processes and appeals unfold – is widely expected to be imprisoned in the coming days, amidst growing speculation that he will be transferred to a well-known maximum security prison.

Historical Comments on Inmates

During Bolsonaro’s 40-year political career, the right-wing ex- soldier displayed minimal sympathy for the country's jailed individuals.

“Why should we provide these lowlifes a easy time?” he once mused. “They should just get screwed, full-fucking-stop. That's my view.”

In another instance, Bolsonaro declared: “Unless you desire to wind up behind bars, the only thing required is to avoid sexual assault, kidnap or rob.”

Prison Destination Debate

Yet the prospect of Bolsonaro himself winding up in the Papuda top-security prison in Brasília has shocked supporters, a group of four this week toured the facility in an apparent bid to discourage the high court from transferring him there.

Izalci Lucas, a lawmaker from Bolsonaro’s Liberal party who was part of that quartet, claimed he expected the elderly leader to be jailed in the next 10 days and worried his location could be Papuda.

The senator argued Bolsonaro’s serious intestinal ailments – the consequence of a almost deadly assault during the 2018 election race – implied it would be risky to keep the one-time head of state there. “His [health] situation is extremely serious. He cannot to manage if they move him to Papuda … It will be terrible,” said the senator, who also worried about cramped cells and the standard of prison meals.

While visiting Papuda, Lucas recalled witnessing cells containing forty detainees: “That’s almost one meter squared per detainee.

“We talked to the prisoners and they protest, unsurprisingly, of the horrible food,” added the senator.

Backers React

Lucas is not the lone figure speaking out before the one-time head of state's predicted detention.

Writing in a major newspaper, another ally, the ex- government official Fábio Wajngarten, deplored the “brutal” finale to Bolsonaro’s “impeccable” time in office and alleged Brazil was about to witness “the biggest political injustice in its history”.

“It represents an injustice that gnaws the souls of many Brazilian citizens,” the former minister said.

Divided General Opinion

That may be correct given the substantial support Bolsonaro holds on the conservative side. However his predicted incarceration has also pleased the spirits of numerous others who feel he deserves to be jailed for conspiring to stop his successor from taking power – and additionally conspiring to have him murdered.

Congressman Otoni, a representative for the incumbent leader's allied group, commented: “No one desires Bolsonaro to be put in a hole. No one wishes Bolsonaro to be put in isolation. Not a soul desires Bolsonaro to go hungry or for him to have to lie on concrete. We desire him to get proper treatment – but proper handling in prison. He must not carry on being his personal jailer for his whole life.”

He observed how Bolsonaro allies, who have long praising the tough treatment of prisoners, had unexpectedly realized to their rights. “Just now has the extreme right – which has consistently asserted that civil liberties should not be for criminals – chosen to inspect a jail to learn what situations are actually like,” he said.

“The former president is a offender,” Otoni insisted, but that did not mean he earned “degrading, demeaning handling”.

Possible Jail Facilities

Despite speculation that Bolsonaro could be sent to Papuda, which presently holds about 14,000 prisoners, his probable location looks to be a close penitentiary for officers and other “particular” inmates referred to as Papudinha (Minor Papuda).

The accommodations are considerably more pleasant than those in the primary facility, although still a distant from the comfort Bolsonaro experienced while occupying the spectacular presidential palace, approximately 12 miles away.

As per reports, the cell Bolsonaro could likely reside in in Papudinha is about 260 square feet – roughly the size of vehicle spaces – and features a 12 sq metre bathroom with a shower and a 12 sq metre terrace. “The ex-president might be authorized to have a television and additionally a small fridge in his quarters as long as they were donated by his family,” sources indicated.

Political Comments

The lawmaker condemned the talked-about proposal to send the ex-president to Papuda as “a type of payback” on the part of the supreme court judge who oversaw Bolsonaro’s proceedings and will decide his outcome in the {

Stacey Hansen
Stacey Hansen

A tech enthusiast and gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in the digital entertainment industry.