Jailhouse Shock: Brazil's FormerPresident Jair Bolsonaro Confronts Life in Prison

He contested the law and justice won.

Two months following getting a quarter-century plus sentence for attempting to “annihilate” the nation's democracy, former president Jair Bolsonaro finally appears jail-bound.

Anticipated Jailing

The adjudicated coup-monger – who had been under home confinement in his estate while a set of legal procedures and challenges unfold – is largely predicted to be jailed in the coming days, amidst mounting speculation that he will be sent to a notorious top-security prison.

Previous Statements on Prisoners

Over Bolsonaro’s long time in politics, the conservative ex- military man exhibited scant sympathy for the country's jailed individuals.

“Why should we provide those dirtbags a easy time?” he previously wondered. “They ought to simply be screwed, full-fucking-stop. That’s what I reckon.”

On another occasion, Bolsonaro declared: “If you don’t want to wind up in prison, the only thing required is not sexual assault, abduction or theft.”

Prison Facility Discussion

But the idea of Bolsonaro himself landing in the Papuda maximum security prison in Brasília has appalled supporters, a group of four this week visited the facility in an apparent effort to dissuade the supreme court from transferring him there.

The senator, a lawmaker from Bolsonaro’s allied group who was part of that quartet, said he predicted the elderly leader to be jailed in the following week and a half and worried his assigned prison could be Papuda.

Lucas claimed Bolsonaro’s serious intestinal problems – the result of a life-threatening assault during the last election race – implied it would be hazardous to keep the one-time head of state there. “His [health] situation is extremely serious. He won’t be able to handle it if they send him to Papuda … It could be awful,” he commented, who also expressed concern about cramped cells and the quality of prison meals.

While visiting Papuda, Lucas recalled witnessing cells holding forty prisoners: “It's almost one meter squared per inmate.

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

Backers Speak Out

Lucas is not the sole person voicing opinions prior to the one-time head of state's predicted detention.

Authoring in a prominent publication, another ally, the ex- government official Fábio Wajngarten, bemoaned the “brutal” finale to Bolsonaro’s “impeccable” time in office and alleged Brazil was about to witness “the biggest political injustice in its past”.

“It represents an injustice that eats away the spirits of countless of Brazilians,” the former minister said.

Mixed General Opinion

That may be true due to the considerable backing Bolsonaro retains on the right-wing. Yet his expected imprisonment has also gladdened the spirits of millions individuals who think he deserves to be imprisoned for plotting to prevent his successor from taking power – and also conspiring to have him murdered.

Congressman Otoni, a representative for the current administration's Workers’ party, commented: “Nobody wants Bolsonaro to be put in a dark cell. Nobody wants Bolsonaro to be put in solitary confinement. Nobody wishes Bolsonaro not to be fed or for him to have to sleep on the floor. We desire him to get proper treatment – but respectful care in prison. He can’t continue being his own prison warden for his lifetime.”

He observed how Bolsonaro supporters, who have spent years applauding the severe handling of inmates, had unexpectedly woken up to their privileges. “Just now has the far-right – which has always argued that basic rights are not for offenders – opted to visit a jail to learn what situations are truly like,” he said.

“Bolsonaro is a offender,” the congressman maintained, but that did not mean he deserved “degrading, demeaning handling”.

Likely Jail Facilities

In spite of speculation that Bolsonaro could be sent to Papuda, which now holds about 14,000 prisoners, his expected location appears to be a nearby prison for police officers and other “particular” detainees known as Papudinha (Small Papuda).

The accommodations are considerably more adequate than those in the larger jail, although nevertheless a world away from the opulence Bolsonaro experienced while residing in the spectacular presidential palace, around a short distance away.

Based on reports, the cell Bolsonaro could anticipate reside in in Papudinha measures about 24 sq metres – roughly the size of vehicle spaces – and features a 130 square foot bathroom with a bathing area and a 12 sq metre balcony. “Bolsonaro would be authorized to have a set and additionally a small fridge in his cell as long as they were donated by his relatives,” the report stated.

Political Reactions

The lawmaker condemned the speculated proposal to send the ex-president to Papuda as “a form of payback” on the part of the judicial authority who presided over Bolsonaro’s proceedings and will rule on his outcome in the {

Gina Thompson
Gina Thompson

A professional casino analyst with over a decade of experience in gaming strategy and slot machine mechanics.