SAO PAULO — Brazil’s Federal Police allege that former President Jair Bolsonaro embezzled jewelry worth 6.8 million Brazilian reais (about $1.2 million) during his term, according to the investigative report revealed Monday by the Supreme Court.
Bolsonaro was charged last week with embezzlement, money laundering and criminal conspiracy in connection with luxury jewelry from Saudi Arabia. The investigation adds pressure on the far-right leader who governed between 2019 and 2022 before losing his re-election bid to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He has already lost his political rights until 2030.
Bolsonaro has not commented on the allegation, but has previously denied any wrongdoing related to the jewelry.
The police report alleges that there was “a criminal association for the embezzlement of high-value gifts that were received due to the position of former President Jair Bolsonaro.” The jewelry included diamond-encrusted Rolex and Patek Phillipe watches, a necklace, rings and cufflinks, among other items. The report says some of the gifts were given to government officials acting on Bolsonaro’s behalf during international trips.
The Associated Press reported Bolsonaro’s accusation Thursday based on information provided by two sources with knowledge of the investigation, but the disclosure of the report by Brazil’s Supreme Court provided a full view of the allegations.
Brazil’s attorney general, Paulo Gonet, will analyze the police report and decide whether to press charges and force the far-right leader to stand trial.
The jewelry would have been tax-exempt if it had been a gift from Saudi Arabia to the nation of Brazil, but not from Bolsonaro to keep. Rather, it would have been incorporated into the presidential collection.
The police report said Bolsonaro’s family received “income obtained through the illegal sale” of the jewelry. The investigation found that the funds were incorporated by the former president without the use of the Brazilian banking system as a way to hide the origin, according to the report.
During his first public speech after the allegations came to light, at a conservative conference in southern Brazil on Saturday, the 69-year-old former army captain did not address the issue. But he and his lawyers have previously denied any wrongdoing in the case, as well as in his other actions that are under investigation.
Argentine President Javier Milei, one of Bolsonaro’s allies, accused Brazil of promoting a legal witch hunt against the former president.
Bolsonaro’s indictment in the jewelry case followed another indictment in March in which the former leader was accused of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination certificate. He is also the subject of an investigation into his possible involvement in inciting a January 2023 uprising in the capital of Brasilia that sought to overthrow his successor.
The police report revealed Monday charges 10 other people, including two of Bolsonaro’s lawyers, a retired army general and a former energy minister in his administration.
The document recounts an exchange between Bolsonaro and a former top adviser to suggest that the Brazilian leader was aware that some of the jewelry in question was about to be auctioned at the US Federal Police, and said the phone of Bolsonaro included other references to Fortuna Auction, the auction company.
Police said a second package of luxury jewelry seized at customs was also addressed to Bolsonaro, whose government made repeated efforts to secure her release. The then-president received the package on November 29, 2022, according to the report.
___
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
