Former president admitted that he tried to open an electronic ankle monitor with equipment at home; exact model has not been disclosed
A soldering iron can be found in stores on-line costing less than R$100.00. The object would have been used by the former president (PL) to try to violate his electronic ankle bracelet. This Saturday morning (Nov 22, 2025) by order of the minister, of the (Supreme Federal Court).
There are hundreds of videos on YouTube teaching how to use the tool, which is used to fix electronics and repairs in general.
See below some soldering iron models found in online stores:
BOLSONARO ADMITTED USE
The former president (PL) said he used a soldering iron to try to open his electronic ankle bracelet. The attempted rape resulted in your . According to a report from Seap (Secretariat of State for Penitentiary Administration) of the Federal District, the equipment had “clear and important signs of damage”. Read (PDF – 94 kB).
It is not possible to know exactly the model of the soldering iron used by Bolsonaro. To date, this information is not available.
Watch the video of the burned equipment:
According to Seap, the equipment had “Clear and important signs of failure” with burn marks along the circumference, especially at the closure point. Read the (PDF – 94 kB)
“There were burn marks around its entire circumference, where the case was fitted/closed. At the time of the analysis, the person being monitored was questioned about the instrument used. In response, he reported that he used a soldering iron to try to open the equipment. We also inform that no signs of damage were identified on the ankle bracelet”, says the penitentiary department.
BOLSONARO ARRESTED
The arrest was ordered this Saturday (Nov 22) after the PF (Federal Police) presented new elements that, according to Moraes, indicate flight risk e threat to public order. The decision comes on the eve of the final judgment of Bolsonaro’s sentence to 27 years and 3 months in prison for an attempted coup d’état.
The former president is being held at the PF Regional Superintendence in the Federal District and is expected to undergo a custody hearing on Sunday (Nov 23).
According to Moraes, Bolsonaro tried to break the electronic ankle bracelet around midnight this Saturday (Nov 22). The minister stated that the violation of the equipment demonstrates an intention to escape, which would be facilitated by a prayer vigil organized by the senator (PL-RJ).
“The Integrated Monitoring Integration Center of the Federal District communicated to this Supreme Court the occurrence of a violation of the electronic monitoring equipment of the defendant Jair Messias Bolsonaro, at 0:08 am on 11/22/2025. The information confirms the condemned man’s intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape, facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son”states the order of the STF minister.
In a publication in X on Friday (Nov 21), Flávio had “for health” from his father and stated that he would win “injustices” e “persecutions” with prayer. The episode was cited by Moraes as an additional element to justify the need for preventive detention, with the aim of preserving public order.
Watch (1min24s):
In the decision, Moraes also mentioned the possibility of Bolsonaro seeking refuge at the United States embassy, located approximately 13 km from his residence in Brasília, a distance that, according to the minister, can be covered in approximately 15 minutes by car.
Preventive detention is precautionary in nature and does not represent the beginning of the execution of the sentence defined in the conviction for the attempted coup d’état.
