Brazil’s Federal Police charged former President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday in connection with an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of valuable jewelry gifted to him by Arab countries during his tenure as president.
Following the investigation, charges were filed against twelve individuals, including the former president, for crimes including appropriation of public property, money laundering, and criminal association. This was confirmed by official sources to EFE.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers, who have consistently denied the charges and maintain that the jewels remain in the possession of the presidency, declined to comment on the investigation’s outcome.
The police report will be forwarded to Supreme Court Justice Alexander de Moraes, who will send it to the Prosecutor’s Office for their determination of sufficient evidence for prosecution and the potential request for a trial from the Court.
Police filed criminal association charges against all twelve individuals under investigation, including former Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Albuqerque and Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp, Mauro Cid. Seven were charged with embezzlement (appropriation of public property) and nine with money laundering.
Expensive jewelry given as gifts on official trips
The case revolves around a collection of jewelry and valuables received by Bolsonaro during official trips to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. These items were supposed to be handed over to the state treasury upon his departure from office.
The investigation indicates that Bolsonaro sold some of the jewels through intermediaries, although some of these items were repurchased by his collaborators after the State demanded their return.
Among the accused is lawyer Frederick Wassef, a defender of the former president, who, according to the investigation, traveled to the United States to buy back the jewels following a demand for their return by the State in January of last year. This demand came after the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Last March, Bolsonaro was also indicted for criminal association and using false information in official records. This case involves allegations of fraud related to obtaining a Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
Key confession that points to Bolsonaro
In both cases, the confessions of Mauro Cid, who was arrested in May 2023 and is currently under provisional release after signing an agreement with authorities, have played a significant role. The agreement requires Cid to confess to his crimes and give evidence against his accomplices in exchange for judicial benefits.
A third investigation by the Federal Police, in its advanced stages and considered the most serious, directly implicates Bolsonaro in the plot to overturn Lula’s electoral victory in October 2022. This plot aimed to keep the far-right leader in power.
The coup attempt culminated on January 8, 2023, when thousands of supporters invaded and vandalized the headquarters of the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court. Their intention was to force a military intervention to oust Lula’s government.
Beyond criminal investigations, the former president is also facing scrutiny from electoral justice. In two separate cases, he has already been stripped of his political rights for eight years due to abuses of political and economic power during his campaign for the 2022 election, which he lost.
Bolsonaro Charged in Jewel Smuggling Case
The Brazilian Federal Police charged former President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday in a case involving the alleged misappropriation of millions of dollars worth of jewels gifted to him by Arab countries during his time in office. The charges come after a thorough investigation by the police, which concluded that Bolsonaro and his associates engaged in criminal activities to benefit from these valuable gifts.
Charges Against Bolsonaro and Associates
The police investigation resulted in charges against twelve individuals, including Bolsonaro, for crimes such as appropriation of public property, money laundering, and criminal association. The former president’s lawyers have denied the charges, claiming that the jewels are still in the possession of the Presidency.
The investigation revealed that Bolsonaro allegedly sold some of the jewels through intermediaries, while some of his collaborators bought them back after the State demanded their return. Police filed charges of criminal association against all twelve individuals under investigation, including former Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Albuqerque and Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp Mauro Cid. Embezzlement charges were brought against seven individuals, and money laundering charges were filed against nine.
The Case of the Jewels
The case revolves around a collection of jewels and valuable objects that Bolsonaro received on official trips to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. According to Brazilian law, these gifts should have been handed over to the state treasury upon Bolsonaro leaving office. The investigation revealed that Bolsonaro and his associates allegedly attempted to circumvent these legal requirements.
According to the findings of the investigation, the former president’s lawyer, Frederick Wassef, traveled to the United States to buy back the jewels after the State demanded their return in January 2023 when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assumed power.
Mauro Cid’s Confession
A key factor in the investigation was the confession of Mauro Cid, who was arrested in May 2023 and later released on provisional release after signing an agreement with the authorities. In exchange for judicial benefits, Cid agreed to confess to his crimes and provide evidence against his accomplices.
These charges against Bolsonaro come amid several other ongoing investigations against the former president. In March 2023, Bolsonaro was indicted on charges of criminal association and use of false data in official records for allegedly obtaining a fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination certificate. He is also under investigation in a separate case involving allegations of a coup plot to annul Lula’s electoral victory in 2022. This investigation, considered the most serious, places Bolsonaro at the center of a conspiracy to overturn the results of the election and keep himself in power.
The Coup Attempt
The coup attempt culminated on January 8, 2023, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and vandalized the headquarters of the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court, hoping to force a military intervention to overthrow Lula’s government.
In addition to the criminal investigations, Bolsonaro is facing legal challenges from the electoral justice system. In two separate cases, he was stripped of his political rights for eight years due to abuses of political and economic power during the 2022 election campaign.
Bolsonaro faces mounting legal troubles
The recent charges against Jair Bolsonaro represent a significant setback for the former president as he faces a multitude of legal challenges. The accusations of jewel smuggling, coupled with ongoing investigations into other alleged crimes, paint a picture of a former leader entangled in a web of legal battles. The outcome of these investigations will have a profound impact on Bolsonaro’s political future and legacy.
The Importance of the Case
The allegations against Bolsonaro are serious and raise serious concerns about the violation of public trust and potential abuse of power. The investigation, which is being closely followed by Brazilians and the international community, will shed light on the extent of the alleged crimes and potentially hold Bolsonaro accountable for his actions. While the legal process will determine the outcome of the case, the charges themselves serve as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government.