The Brazilian Court of Accounts (TCU) ruled on Thursday that former President Jair Bolsonaro cannot use or sell jewelry received from the Saudi Arabian government.
The decision of the control body, linked to the Brazilian Congress, was made after the Federal Police opened an investigation to clarify the “irregular entry” into the country of several pieces of jewelry that the Saudi government delivered to the then president and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, in 2021.
The instructor of the process in the TCU, magistrate Augusto Nardes, indicated that before the “indications of irregularities” in the “attempt to enter the country of the jewels”, for an amount of three million euros, he adopted the “necessary measures”. . by “the proceedings” of the police.
Bolsonaro, according to Nardes’ decision, must “preserve intact” the set of jewels in the “quality of faithful depository” until “the deliberation” of the TCU, “refraining from using or disposing of” all “the goods that are the object of the process”.
The police investigation will be carried out “under judicial secrecy” and “has an initial term of 30 days, with the possibility of extending it if necessary”, and will take place in parallel to another investigation opened on Tuesday, the police said.
The case was reported by the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo, which assured that the Bolsonaro government (2019-2022) tried to smuggle the jewels, valued at 16.5 million reais (three million euros), into the country.
The tax authorities seized the jewels at the Guarulhos international airport, in São Paulo, after they were found in the backpack of an adviser, who was part of the entourage of the then Minister of Mines and Energy of Bolsonaro Bento Albuquerque. The jewels were not duly declared.
Among the seized jewelery was “a necklace, a ring, a watch and a pair of diamond earrings” from the Swiss brand Chopard.
Bolsonaro tried several times to release the exclusive gifts before the end of his term, on January 1, 2023, but without success, according to the newspaper.
The Brazilian press also reported that a second package of jewelry, consisting of a watch, a pen and a ring, also from Chopard, according to O Globo, apparently passed through customs without being declared and managed to enter the country.
The second set was apparently placed within the former president’s private collection, which could also lead to another wrongdoing, should it be determined that the items are not intended for personal use.
In a video from the airport security cameras, broadcast by the TV Globo channel, the former Minister of Mines and Energy is seen trying to release the jewels with customs prosecutors and at one point he affirms that the package was a gift for Michelle Bolsonaro.
Source: TSF
