Brazilian police indict ex-president Jair Bolsonaro in case of embezzlement, misappropriating jewellery
File photo of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. Photograph:( Reuters )
Story highlights
This is the second time police have formally indicted Bolsonaro for a crime. He was earlier charged in March with forging his COVID-19 vaccine records.
This is the second time police have formally indicted Bolsonaro for a crime. He was earlier charged in March with forging his COVID-19 vaccine records.
The Brazilian Police on Thursday (July 4) has indicted former president Jair Bolsonaro for embezzlement and allegedly misappropriating jewellery he received as head of state, including luxury items given by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Citing two police sources, a report by the news agency Reuters said the jewellery, some of it made by Chopard of Switzerland, was valued at $3.2 million and included a diamond necklace, ring, watch, and earrings given to Bolsonaro and the former first lady Michelle by the Saudi government.
Some of the jewellery was seized by customs officials at Sao Paulo's international airport in October 2021 when it was found in the backpack of a government aide returning from Riyadh.
The accusations
The police charged Bolsonaro for money laundering, criminal association, and embezzlement, Reuters reported. This is the second time police have formally indicted Bolsonaro for a crime. He was earlier charged in March for forging his COVID-19 vaccine records.
In 2023, police searched the homes of military officers who allegedly helped Bolsonaro sell some of the jewellery in the United States (US). The search was part of an investigation authorised by Supreme Court Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
At the time, Justice Moraes said the items had been sold and the sale had not been declared.
'Open and brazen persecution'
In a post on X, Bolsonaro's son and Senator Flavio slammed the accusations against his father as "open and brazen persecution."
A perseguição a Bolsonaro é declarada e descarada!
— Flavio Bolsonaro (@FlavioBolsonaro) July 4, 2024
Alguém ganha um presente, uma comissão de servidores públicos decide que ele é seu. O TCU questiona e o presente é devolvido à União. Não há dano ao erário!
Aí o grupo de PFs, escalados a dedo pra missão, indicia a pessoa.
"Someone receives a gift, a committee of public servants decides that it is yours. The TCU questions and the gift is returned to the Union. There is no damage to the treasury! Then the group of PFs, handpicked for the mission, indicts the person," Flavi said on Thursday.
Apart from Bolsonaro, police also formally accused on Thursday former mines and energy minister Bento Albuquerque, whose aide had returned with him from a visit to Riyadh, Bolsonaro's former aide-de-camp Mauro Cid, who was allegedly involved in selling jewellery, his lawyer Frederick Wassef and his spokesperson Fabio Wajngarten, Reuters reported.
(With inputs from agencies)
