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He battled the law and the law triumphed.

A couple of months following receiving a quarter-century plus sentence for attempting to “destroy” Brazil’s political system, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro finally looks destined for incarceration.

Imminent Incarceration

The adjudicated coup-monger – who had been under home confinement in his residence while a number of court processes and challenges proceed – is largely predicted to be imprisoned in the next few days, amidst mounting rumors that he will be transferred to a infamous maximum security penitentiary.

Historical Statements on Prisoners

Throughout Bolsonaro’s long public life, the conservative ex- military man exhibited little sympathy for Brazil’s jailed individuals.

“What’s the need to give those lowlifes a comfortable existence?” he once pondered. “They deserve to be messed, end of story. That's my opinion.”

At another time, Bolsonaro stated: “Should you not wish to wind up behind bars, all you have to do is to avoid rape, kidnap or theft.”

Jail Location Debate

Yet the prospect of Bolsonaro himself ending up in the Papuda prison top-security prison in Brasília has appalled supporters, a group of four this week inspected the prison in an obvious bid to prevent the judiciary from banishing him there.

Senator Lucas, a lawmaker from Bolsonaro’s political party who was among that group, stated he anticipated the 70-year-old figure to be imprisoned in the coming fortnight and feared his location could be Papuda.

Lucas claimed Bolsonaro’s acute digestive problems – the consequence of a almost deadly assault during the last presidential campaign – meant it would be dangerous to keep the one-time head of state there. “His [health] situation is highly critical. He will not be able to cope if they send him to Papuda … It would be terrible,” said the senator, who also worried about cramped cells and the standard of jail cuisine.

During his tour Papuda, Lucas remembered witnessing cells containing 40 prisoners: “That is virtually one square metre per prisoner.

“We spoke to the prisoners and they protest, naturally, of the terrible food,” added the senator.

Allies Voice Concerns

He is not the lone figure voicing opinions prior to the ex-leader's predicted imprisonment.

Writing in a prominent newspaper, another ally, the former communications minister Fábio Wajngarten, deplored the “harsh” end to Bolsonaro’s “flawless” time in office and claimed Brazil was about to see “the largest unfairness in its past”.

“It is an injustice that erodes the hearts of millions of Brazilians,” the former minister said.

Mixed Public Response

It is possibly correct given the significant following Bolsonaro maintains on the Brazilian right. However his expected jailing has also warmed the hearts of many others who think he deserves to be imprisoned for planning to prevent the incoming president from assuming office – and additionally scheming to have him murdered.

The lawmaker, a representative for the incumbent president's political party, commented: “No one wants Bolsonaro to be sent in a hole. Nobody desires Bolsonaro to be placed in solitary confinement. No one wishes Bolsonaro to go hungry or for him to have to rest on hard ground. We want him to obtain proper treatment – but respectful care in prison. He can’t continue being his own prison warden for his whole life.”

The congressman noted how Bolsonaro allies, who have for a long time applauding the severe handling of convicts, had suddenly woken up to their entitlements. “Only now has the far-right – which has repeatedly claimed that civil liberties should not be for lawbreakers – chosen to tour a jail to discover what conditions are really like,” he said.

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

Possible Jail Facilities

In spite of rumors that Bolsonaro could be sent to Papuda, which presently holds about 14,000 inmates, his expected location appears to be a adjacent penitentiary for law enforcement and other “special” detainees called Papudinha (Little Papuda).

His potential cell are much more adequate than those in the main prison, although nevertheless a far cry from the luxury Bolsonaro had while occupying the impressive official residence, approximately 20 kilometers away.

According to reports, the cell Bolsonaro could anticipate occupy in Papudinha is about 24 square meters – approximately the area of vehicle spaces – and contains a 12 sq metre WC with a water facility and a 130 square foot balcony. “The ex-president might be authorized to have a TV and also a small fridge in his room as long as they were donated by his loved ones,” information indicated.

Ideological Responses

The lawmaker denounced the speculated idea to send the former leader to Papuda as “a type of retaliation” on the part of the supreme court judge who led Bolsonaro’s coup trial and will decide his future in the {