Bolsonaro is suspected of embezzling gifts from abroad
Brazil is suspected of reselling gifts received from foreign countries during the former president’s tenure.
Jair Bolsonaro on June 30, 2023.
AFP
Brazilian federal police suspect associates of Jair Bolsonaro of reselling gifts, particularly jewelry, received from abroad for the “illegal enrichment” of the far-right former president.
Elements of the police investigation were released in a ruling by Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes to justify search warrants executed on Friday at the homes of Jair Bolsonaro’s former aides.
Can we read in this verdict of the magistrate that “the collected evidence shows that during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, there was a network that diverted large quantities of goods supplied to him”? “Beyond allowing the impermissible enrichment of the President of the Republic (…), the Brazilian head of state may have been co-opted by foreign countries through these assets,” the investigators believe.
Suitcase
They also report that Jair Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States, two days before the inauguration of his leftist successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in a “suitcase carried on the presidential plane on December 30.” October presidential election.
Among the state gifts were two sculptures, one in the shape of a boat and the other in the shape of a palm tree, presented by the government of Bahrain during a 2021 state visit, as well as men’s jewelry from Saudi Arabia, including a watch and a fountain pen by Swiss luxury brand Chopard.
One of those suspected of reselling the gifts is Mauro Cid, a former aide to Jair Bolsonaro who has been in jail since May. He was arrested in connection with another case of alleged falsification of vaccination certificates against Covid-19. According to investigators, Mauro Cid mentioned in an audio message “25,000 dollars in cash” that would be for the former president after the sale of certain items.
Jewelry
The scandal over foreign gifts to Jair Bolsonaro erupted in March, when senior officials tried to smuggle jewels from Saudi Arabia without prior notice, the “Estado de S Paulo” newspaper revealed. The jewelry in question, including a diamond set for First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro, was seized by customs in October 2021.
But investigators say there is evidence that many government prizes have been rigged. According to Brazil’s Court of Auditors, the head of state can only keep gifts “of a very personal nature or of minimal monetary value” at the end of his term.
In April, Jair Bolsonaro was questioned by federal police over the Saudi jewelry case and denied any wrongdoing.
AFP
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