Brazilian police have opened an investigation into the irregular entry of Jair Bolsonaro’s jewelry

The Federal Police of Brazil has opened an investigation to clarify “irregular incomein the land of a set of jewelry that the Saudi government gave in 2021 to the then president, Jair Bolsonaro and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaroreported official sources.

The inquiry will be processedunder judicial secrecy” e “has an initial period of thirty dayswith the possibility of extending it if necessary”, and it will take place parallel to another opened by the IRSsaid the Federal Police in a note published Monday evening.

The scandal was revealed by the newspaper State of Sao Paulowho declared that the Bolsonaro government (2019-2022) attempted to smuggle jewelry worth 16.5 million reais ($3.2 million) into the country that the Saudi authorities had handed over to the first lady at the time, Michelle Bolsonaroin October 2021.

The Treasury seized them at Guarulhos International Airport, in São Paulo, after find them in a consultant’s backpack who was part of the entourage of Bolsonaro’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerqueand did not declare them correctly.

Among the jewels seized were “a necklace, a ring, a watch and a pair of diamond earrings” from the exclusive Swiss brand Chopard.

Bolsonaro tried several times to release the exclusive freebies before his term ended on January 1, but were unsuccessful, according to the aforementioned newspaper.

But the Brazilian press also pointed out that, apparently, there was a second package of jewelscomposed of a watch, a pen and a ring, also by Chopard, according to The globewho apparently passed through customs undeclared and managed to enter the country.

“The fact can configure, in theory, a violation of customs legislation by the other traveler, due to the lack of declaration and collection of taxes,” said the Treasury, the body responsible for customs in the country.

Given this information, the current Minister of Justice, Flavio Dinoasked the federal police to open an investigation into the case, which materialized on Monday evening.

According to the portal metropolisesthe Department specialized in the fight against crimes against the Treasury of the Superintendence of San Pablo, which will be in charge of the investigation, wants to question Bolsonaro, his wife, former minister Albuquerque and his advisers.

Bolsonaro, leader of Brazil’s far-right and who has been in Orlando, United States, since December 30, where he went two days before the end of his term, denied any “illegality” in this regard .

(With information from EFE)

Continue reading: