Jair Bolsonaro: Did Brazil’s former leader get money from $70,000 sale of luxury jewellery gifts?

Brazil’s federal police have accused former President Jair Bolsonaro of receiving cash from the nearly $70,000 sale of two luxury watches he got as gifts from Saudi Arabia while in his post.

The incident is likely to make things more difficult for the far-right leader who is already facing trial in a number of different cases that could put him behind bars.

Earlier in the day, officers raided homes and offices of people supposedly involved in the matter, including that of a four-star army general. But Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.

According to a Federal Police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the force is looking for authorisation to access the politician’s personal banking and financial details.

Bolsonaro Facing Trial In Several Other Cases

In a statement, Bolsonaro’s legal representatives said he would authorise the country’s judiciary to have access to his banking information.

He is being probed in relation to a rampage by his supporters after he left office as well as activities during the election campaign he lost last fall.

The former president has never misplaced any public assets, the statement further read. Nevertheless, the incident undoubtedly adds to the legal trouble facing Bolsonaro.

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Brazilians arriving by plane from abroad must declare items worth over $1,000 and pay a tax equal to 50% of the value for any goods above that exemption.

The couple of luxury watches would have been exempt from tax had they been a gift from Saudi Arabia to Brazil, but would not have been Bolsonaro’s to keep.

Bolsonaro Ruled Ineligible To Run For Office Until 2030

According to the investigation, the politician’s aide, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, sold the gifts to a store in the US in June last year for a total of $68,000, the judge’s order mentioned.

The amount was allegedly moved to the bank account of Cid’s father, one of the targets of the search and seizure warrants issued Friday.

In March 2023, when the Federal Police requested Bolsonaro return the luxury watches, his lawyer repurchased one of them in Miami and turned it over to authorities, the order said.

The former president was recently ruled ineligible to run for office until the end of the decade after a panel of judges ruled he abused his power.