The case involves a set of diamond jewelry worth $3.2 million that was seized by customs inspectors in October 2021….reports Asian Lite News
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro is facing potential charges of money laundering and other crimes related to undeclared diamond jewelry gifted by Saudi Arabia, local media reported Thursday.
Federal police have accused Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019-2022, of money laundering, embezzlement, and criminal association, according to Brazilian news outlet G1.
The case involves a set of diamond jewelry worth $3.2 million that was seized by customs inspectors in October 2021. The jewelry was found in a satchel belonging to Bolsonaro’s Mining and Energy ministry entourage after returning from a trip to the Middle East.
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Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing. Alongside Bolsonaro, eleven others, including his attorney Fabio Wajngarten, face charges. Wajngarten responded on X (formerly Twitter), claiming he was accused “for the bizarre reason of having complied with the law.” Bolsonaro’s son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, called the accusations “open and brazen persecution” against his father.
Despite the federal police’s accusations, Brazil’s Attorney General Office has yet to formally charge Bolsonaro before the Federal Supreme Court. These new allegations add to Bolsonaro’s legal troubles, as he is also under investigation for his role in the January 2023 Brazil Congress attack and faces possible charges for falsifying Covid-19 vaccination documents to travel.
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