The Brazilian Police on Thursday (July 4) has indicted former president Jair Bolsonaro for embezzlement and allegedly misappropriating jewellery he received as head of state, including luxury items given by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The Brazilian Police on Thursday (July 4) has indicted former president Jair Bolsonaro for embezzlement and allegedly misappropriating jewellery he received as head of state, including luxury items given by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Citing two police sources, a report by the news agency Reuters said the jewellery, some of it made by Chopard of Switzerland, was valued at $3.2 million and included a diamond necklace, ring, watch, and earrings given to Bolsonaro and the former first lady Michelle by the Saudi government. Some of the jewellery was seized by customs officials at Sao Paulo's international airport in October 2021 when it was found in the backpack of a government aide returning from Riyadh. The accusations The police charged Bolsonaro for money laundering, criminal association, and embezzlement, Reuters reported. This is the second time police have formally indicted Bolsonaro for a crime. He was earlier charged in March for forging his COVID-19 vaccine records. In 2023, police searched the homes of military officers who allegedly helped Bolsonaro sell some of the jewellery in the United States (US). The search was part of an investigation authorised by Supreme Court Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes. At the time, Justice Moraes said the items had been sold and the sale had not been declared. 'Open and brazen persecution' In a post on X, Bolsonaro's son and Senator Flavio slammed the accusations against his father as "open and brazen persecution." A perseguição a Bolsonaro é declarada e descarada! Alguém ganha um presente, uma comissão de servidores públicos decide que ele é seu. O TCU questiona e o presente é devolvido à União. Não há dano ao erário! Aí o grupo de PFs, escalados a dedo pra missão, indicia a pessoa. — Flavio Bolsonaro (@FlavioBolsonaro) July 4, 2024 × "Someone receives a gift, a committee of public servants decides that it is yours. The TCU questions and the gift is returned to the Union. There is no damage to the treasury! Then the group of PFs, handpicked for the mission, indicts the person," Flavi said on Thursday. Apart from Bolsonaro, police also formally accused on Thursday former mines and energy minister Bento Albuquerque, whose aide had returned with him from a visit to Riyadh, Bolsonaro's former aide-de-camp Mauro Cid, who was allegedly involved in selling jewellery, his lawyer Frederick Wassef and his spokesperson Fabio Wajngarten, Reuters reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Brazilian police indict ex-president Jair Bolsonaro in case of embezzlement, misappropriating jewellery

The Brazilian police on Wednesday (May 3) raided the home of former president Jair Bolsonaro and seized his mobile phone as part of an investigation into his Covid vaccination records. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the investigation might answer questions about how Bolsonaro- who vowed never to get vaccinated against Covid- was registered as vaccinated in health records made public in February.

The police said they were investigating "false data" allegedly added to a national Covid database between November 2021 and December 2022, when Bolsonaro was Brazil's president.

Confirming the raid on his home, Bolsonaro reiterated he was never vaccinated against Covid, and denied any role in allegedly forging documents.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-of-the-tropics-bolsonaro-denies-role-in-jan-6-style-attack-on-brazilian-capital-586467">'Trump of the Tropics' Bolsonaro denies role in Jan 6-style attack on Brazilian capital</a>

"For my part, there was nothing falsified. I didn't take the vaccine. Period," Bolsonaro said.&nbsp;

"I did not take the vaccine, it was a personal decision of mine after reading the Pfizer package insert. They took a photo of my wife's vaccine card and she had the Janssen vaccine in the United States and my 12-year-old daughter Laura also did not get the vaccine. I am surprised by a search operation and seizure for such a reason and I have nothing more to say,” the former president said.&nbsp;

"My (mobile phone) has been seized, my phone has no password, I will make that very clear. I have nothing to hide. Not only about the vaccination card, but I also have nothing to hide about anything. It would be good if we had a democratic country where we could discuss all subjects. There are subjects that are forbidden to talk about in Brazil and one of them is about the vaccine,” he added.&nbsp;

In a statement, the federal police said that they were serving 16 search warrants and six preventive arrest warrants in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro as part of the operation but did not disclose the names of those targeted.

However, two people familiar with developments told Reuters that the police arrested Mauro Cid and Max Guilherme, personal assistants to Bolsonaro as the president who stayed on as his aides when he stepped down.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Brazilian police on Wednesday (May 3) raided the home of former president Jair Bolsonaro and seized his mobile phone as part of an investigation into his Covid vaccination records.

The Brazilian police on Wednesday (May 3) raided the home of former president Jair Bolsonaro and seized his mobile phone as part of an investigation into his Covid vaccination records. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the investigation might answer questions about how Bolsonaro- who vowed never to get vaccinated against Covid- was registered as vaccinated in health records made public in February. The police said they were investigating "false data" allegedly added to a national Covid database between November 2021 and December 2022, when Bolsonaro was Brazil's president. Confirming the raid on his home, Bolsonaro reiterated he was never vaccinated against Covid, and denied any role in allegedly forging documents. ALSO READ | 'Trump of the Tropics' Bolsonaro denies role in Jan 6-style attack on Brazilian capital "For my part, there was nothing falsified. I didn't take the vaccine. Period," Bolsonaro said. "I did not take the vaccine, it was a personal decision of mine after reading the Pfizer package insert. They took a photo of my wife's vaccine card and she had the Janssen vaccine in the United States and my 12-year-old daughter Laura also did not get the vaccine. I am surprised by a search operation and seizure for such a reason and I have nothing more to say,” the former president said. "My (mobile phone) has been seized, my phone has no password, I will make that very clear. I have nothing to hide. Not only about the vaccination card, but I also have nothing to hide about anything. It would be good if we had a democratic country where we could discuss all subjects. There are subjects that are forbidden to talk about in Brazil and one of them is about the vaccine,” he added. In a statement, the federal police said that they were serving 16 search warrants and six preventive arrest warrants in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro as part of the operation but did not disclose the names of those targeted. However, two people familiar with developments told Reuters that the police arrested Mauro Cid and Max Guilherme, personal assistants to Bolsonaro as the president who stayed on as his aides when he stepped down. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Brazil: Ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's home raided in vaccine records probe

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Brazilian police indict ex-president Jair Bolsonaro in case of embezzlement, misappropriating jewellery

Brazil: Ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's home raided in vaccine records probe