Jailhouse Shock: Brazil's FormerPresident Bolsonaro Confronts Life Behind Bars

He fought justice and justice triumphed.

Two months after being handed a 27-year sentence for trying to “destroy” the nation's political system, former president Jair Bolsonaro finally seems headed to prison.

Anticipated Imprisonment

The found-guilty plotter – who had been living under home confinement in his mansion while a series of court processes and challenges proceed – is largely predicted to be incarcerated in the next few days, amidst increasing talk that he will be transferred to a well-known high-security facility.

Previous Statements on Convicts

During Bolsonaro’s 40-year time in politics, the far-right former soldier exhibited little mercy for Brazil’s jailed individuals.

“Why should we give those dirtbags a good life?” he once mused. “They deserve to be messed, period. That's my opinion.”

On another occasion, Bolsonaro proclaimed: “If you don’t want to finish behind bars, all you have to do is to avoid sexual assault, kidnap or theft.”

Incarceration Location Debate

However the prospect of Bolsonaro himself winding up in the Papuda maximum security prison in Brasília has appalled backers, a group of four this week toured the facility in an apparent bid to dissuade the high court from banishing him there.

The senator, a politician from Bolsonaro’s allied group who was one of the visitors, stated he anticipated the elderly leader to be incarcerated in the coming fortnight and was concerned his assigned prison could be Papuda.

Lucas claimed Bolsonaro’s acute intestinal issues – the result of a near-fatal knife attack during the 2018 election race – signified it would be risky to keep the ex-leader there. “His [health] situation is very grave. He won’t be able to cope if they send him to Papuda … It could be dreadful,” he added, who also expressed concern about cramped cells and the standard of jail cuisine.

When inspecting Papuda, Lucas recalled observing cells containing four dozen detainees: “That’s practically one meter squared per inmate.

“We conversed to the prisoners and they protest, of course, of the awful meals,” continued the senator.

Allies React

The senator isn't the sole person voicing opinions before the former president’s expected incarceration.

Penning in a leading daily, another ally, the former cabinet member Fábio Wajngarten, lamented the “severe” end to Bolsonaro’s “impeccable” public service and alleged Brazil was about to witness “the biggest political injustice in its past”.

“This is an injustice that erodes the spirits of millions people in Brazil,” Wajngarten wrote.

Mixed Popular Opinion

That may be true considering the considerable support Bolsonaro retains on the conservative side. But his predicted jailing has also pleased the hearts of numerous individuals who feel he ought to be imprisoned for plotting to stop the incoming president from assuming office – and even conspiring to have him murdered.

Reimont Otoni, a congressman for the incumbent administration's allied group, stated: “Not a soul wishes Bolsonaro to be placed in a hole. Not a soul wishes Bolsonaro to be put in solitary confinement. No one wishes Bolsonaro to lack food or for him to have to lie on concrete. We want him to get respectful handling – but proper handling behind bars. He cannot persist being his personal jailer for his whole life.”

He observed how Bolsonaro allies, who have long celebrating the tough treatment of prisoners, had abruptly become aware to their rights. “Only now has the far-right – which has always claimed that human rights should not be for lawbreakers – chosen to inspect a penitentiary to find out what circumstances are really like,” he stated.

“The former president is a offender,” he affirmed, but that did not mean he earned “shameful, demeaning treatment”.

Likely Jail Environment

In spite of rumors that Bolsonaro could be moved to Papuda, which presently holds about fourteen thousand inmates, his probable location seems to be a nearby penitentiary for law enforcement and other “unique” prisoners referred to as Papudinha (Minor Papuda).

The accommodations are much more pleasant than those in the main prison, although still a distant from the comfort Bolsonaro had while living in the impressive official residence, about 12 miles away.

As per sources, the accommodation Bolsonaro could anticipate inhabit in Papudinha is about 24 square meters – approximately the size of vehicle spaces – and includes a 12 square meter WC with a bathing area and a 130 square foot balcony. “The ex-president might be permitted to have a television and additionally a minibar in his cell as long as they were provided by his relatives,” sources suggested.

Ideological Comments

The lawmaker condemned the talked-about plan to send the former leader to Papuda as “an act of payback” on the part of the presiding magistrate who led Bolsonaro’s proceedings and will decide his future in the {

Juan Wilson
Juan Wilson

Lena is a passionate gamer and tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering the gaming industry and reviewing new releases.