In a recent development, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been formally charged with embezzlement of jewelry that he received during his time as head of state. According to G1 news website, the charges include items like a diamond necklace, a ring, a watch and earrings, valued at $3.2 million (€2.96 million). The jewelry was gifted to Bolsonaro and his wife by the Saudi Arabian government among other entities.
The incident involving the jewelry was first discovered in October 2021 when customs authorities at Sao Paolo International Airport seized some of it from the luggage of a government employee returning from Riyadh. Bolsonaro’s successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has called for an investigation into the matter, with one of his cabinet ministers labeling Bolsonaro’s actions as “smuggling.”
Despite these charges, Bolsonaro’s lawyer has refrained from providing any comments on the situation. However, this is not the first time that Bolsonaro has been accused of criminal activity. In a separate case last year, police raided the homes of several military officers for allegedly aiding Bolsonaro in selling jewelry to the United States. Authorities mentioned that while the items had been sold, the transactions had not been properly reported. Additionally, in March 2021, Bolsonaro faced charges of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination records.
