He former president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro declared this Thursday before the Federal Police of Brasilia by alleged contrabanddo and diversion of jewelry received during his presidency that were taken as personal property for the family.
The jewelry smuggling investigation arose from a connection between the gift of saudi arabia government and the privatization of the Landulpho Alves refinerylocated in Bahia, which was acquired by the sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates, Mubadala Capital.
According to his lawyers, Bolsonaro must remain silent considering that he refuses to be investigated by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and not by a judge of first instance.
At the same time, six people will declare: two of his lawyers and former first lady Michelle Firmoleader of the women’s branch of the Liberal Party.
The former president and leader of the Liberal Party (PL), For his part, he has already anticipated that he will not leave the country given the possibility of being detained or delayed by the police forces.
How was the Bolsonaro smuggling attempt?
The former president received a large amount of jewelry from the Saudi authorities in October 2021, including “a necklace, a ring, a watch and a pair of diamond earrings”all gifts for who was at that time the first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro.
Upon returning to Brazil, Customs agents found the jewelry in the backpack of one of the soldiers who traveled with the presidential entourage. and they verified that none of the objects had previously been declared as legal trademark. “They are accusing me of a gift that I did not ask for, nor did I receive. There is no illegality on my part“Brazil Bolsonaro, who is still in the United States, told CNN.
The goods were seized at the Guarulhos international airport, in São Paulo., according to information from the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo that was later confirmed by other media. Former Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Albuquerque tried to recover the jewels without success on numerous occasions.
The Brazilian newspaper affirms that, in the last two months of Bolsonaro’s term, four attempts were made to retrieve the gifts even mobilizing the Foreign and Economy ministries, all without success.
Source: Ambito
