Jailhouse Shock: Brazil's FormerPresident Bolsonaro Confronts Time in Prison

He battled justice and the law prevailed.

A couple of months after being handed a 27-year sentence for seeking to “destroy” the nation's democratic institutions, former president Jair Bolsonaro now appears jail-bound.

Anticipated Jailing

The convicted plotter – who had been subject to home confinement in his residence while a series of court processes and petitions proceed – is largely predicted to be incarcerated in the next few days, during increasing speculation that he will be moved to a infamous top-security penitentiary.

Previous Statements on Prisoners

Over Bolsonaro’s long political career, the conservative ex- military man exhibited little sympathy for the country's inmates.

“For what reason must we offer those dirtbags a comfortable existence?” he once mused. “They deserve to be screwed, full-fucking-stop. That's my opinion.”

At another time, Bolsonaro stated: “If you don’t want to finish in prison, all you have to do is not sexual assault, abduction or rob.”

Prison Destination Discussion

However the idea of Bolsonaro himself landing in the Papuda prison maximum security prison in Brasília has shocked allies, a group of four this week inspected the prison in an seeming bid to dissuade the supreme court from sending him there.

Izalci Lucas, a lawmaker from Bolsonaro’s allied group who was part of that quartet, stated he anticipated the elderly figure to be incarcerated in the coming fortnight and feared his destination could be Papuda.

Lucas claimed Bolsonaro’s severe gut problems – the outcome of a life-threatening knife attack during the 2018 political campaign – implied it would be risky to keep the former president there. “His [health] situation is very grave. He will not be able to manage if they move him to Papuda … It could be terrible,” he added, who also worried about packed cells and the condition of inmate food.

During his tour Papuda, Lucas recalled witnessing cells accommodating 40 prisoners: “It's almost one square metre per detainee.

“We conversed to the inmates and they grumble, of course, of the terrible food,” added the senator.

Allies Voice Concerns

The senator isn't the lone figure expressing views ahead of the ex-leader's predicted imprisonment.

Writing in a major daily, one more backer, the former government official Fábio Wajngarten, lamented the “harsh” finale to Bolsonaro’s “impeccable” time in office and alleged Brazil was about to see “the largest unfairness in its record”.

“It represents an unfairness that eats away the souls of countless of Brazilians,” he stated.

Varied General Opinion

That may be accurate given the significant backing Bolsonaro retains on the Brazilian right. However his predicted imprisonment has also gladdened the spirits of numerous other people who feel he deserves to be jailed for conspiring to stop the elected leader from becoming president – and even conspiring to have him assassinated.

The lawmaker, a representative for the incumbent president's political party, commented: “Not a soul wishes Bolsonaro to be placed in a dark cell. Nobody wants Bolsonaro to be sent in isolation. Nobody desires Bolsonaro to lack food or for him to have to sleep on the floor. We wish him to obtain dignified handling – but respectful treatment while incarcerated. He must not continue being his self-appointed guard for his lifetime.”

The congressman noted how Bolsonaro allies, who have long praising the tough treatment of inmates, had suddenly realized to their privileges. “Recently has the far-right – which has always argued that basic rights should not be for lawbreakers – decided to tour a penitentiary to learn what situations are really like,” he said.

“He is a offender,” the congressman maintained, but that did not mean he merited “shameful, degrading treatment”.

Likely Jail Conditions

Regardless of talk that Bolsonaro could be sent to Papuda, which presently holds about fourteen thousand prisoners, his more likely assigned facility appears to be a close prison for officers and other “unique” inmates called Papudinha (Little Papuda).

Its cells are much more adequate than those in the primary facility, although still a distant from the luxury Bolsonaro had while occupying the impressive presidential palace, approximately 12 miles away.

According to sources, the room Bolsonaro could likely reside in in Papudinha measures about 24 square meters – about the size of two parking spaces – and includes a 130 square foot restroom with a shower and a 130 square foot veranda. “Bolsonaro would be allowed to have a television and even a small fridge in his quarters as long as they were donated by his loved ones,” sources indicated.

Political Responses

Senator Lucas condemned the rumoured plan to send the ex-president to Papuda as “an act of retaliation” on the part of the presiding magistrate who presided over Bolsonaro’s proceedings and will determine his future in the {

Andrew Conley
Andrew Conley

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