The defense of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) asked the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) to keep jewelry they received from the government of Saudi Arabia that had illegally entered the country.
Bolsonaro’s request was forwarded to the Brazilian state’s supervisory body, allied to Congress, which last week ordered Bolsonaro not to wear or sell the jewels, while also appointing the former president as a temporary “trustee” of the same. .
With the “requirement of the judicial deposit” of the jewels with the TCU, Bolsonaro’s defense reported Tuesday, “it is well established that the petitioner at no time intended to retain any assets that could be public.”
As for the “discussion of the legal situation of such items, given the complexity of the rules,” it is required that the jewels “remain in the custody of the government until their proper and final destination is completed,” said attorney Paulo Amador of Cunha Bueno.
The petition was filed on Monday, but details were not released until Tuesday by state news agency Agência Brasil.
The federal police opened an investigation to clarify “the illegal entry” into the country of several jewels that Saudi Arabia gave to the former ruler and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, “worth three million euros” in 2021.
The police investigation is taking place “under judicial secrecy”, “has an initial period of 30 days, which can be extended if necessary” and will run parallel to another investigation opened by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance.
The case was raised by the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo, with the newspaper stating that the Bolsonaro government attempted to introduce the jewels illegally and that the Secretariat of the National Treasury seized them at Guarulhos International Airport, in Sao Paulo.
An initial package of jewels was found in the backpack of an adviser who was part of the entourage of then Secretary of Mines and Energy Bento Albuquerque, who represented Bolsonaro on the trip, and had failed to declare them correctly.
Among the jewelry seized was “a necklace, a ring, a watch and a pair of diamond earrings” from the Swiss brand Chopard.
Bolsonaro, who has been in power in the United States since his departure, has tried several times to arrest those present before the end of his term on January 1, but without success, according to the newspaper.
There was a second package of jewelry, including a watch, a pen and cufflinks, which passed through customs unidentified and, according to Bolsonaro’s lawyer, are in the possession of the former president.
On Tuesday, Bento Albuquerque told federal police that the jewelry he received and brought to Bolsonaro was intended for the “Brazilian state” and was not classified for “personal use,” as the former ruler’s defense stated.
Source: DN
