Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is once again in turmoil. Brazilian police have opened several investigations after uncovering the illegal importation of jewelry offered by Saudi Arabia to the former head of state.
Why is ?
The case was uncovered by the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, which reported that a delegation from Jair Bolsonaro’s government tried to smuggle jewelry worth more than three million euros into the territory without declaring them to customs.
According to him, customs seized a package from the backpack of an assistant to then Minister of Mines and Energy Bento Albuquerque while a Brazilian delegation was returning from an official visit to Riyadh. This package contained, among other things, a set of diamonds that had not been declared to customs and were therefore confiscated.
This assistant to Minister Albuquerque then explained that an “envoy” from the Saudi government had delivered two packages to be delivered to the Brazilian President and First Lady, Michelle Bolsonaro. The second package made it to Brazil unchecked by customs and ended up in the possession of Jair Bolsonaro.
Amanda Perobelli / Portal
These two packages contained jewelery from the Swiss brand Chopard, in particular a diamond parure, with a necklace, a ring, a watch and earrings worth 3 million euros, as well as a watch, a fountain pen and cufflinks.
The Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper also claims that several members of the administration have tried eight times to retrieve these jewels, putting pressure on customs officials.
Why is this causing a scandal?
Bringing in valuables without declaration violates Brazilian law. In fact, any goods worth more than $1,000 must be declared to customs before entry, and its owner must pay an import tax.
If these jewels had been declared as official gifts from one state to another, no import tax would have been required, but the jewels would then have entered the official collection of the presidency and would not belong to the Bolsonaro couple personally. Government officials are therefore not authorized to accept gifts of any value from foreign governments or in their personal capacity.
The federal police and the tax authorities have therefore announced the opening of several investigations in this case.
What will happen ?
This Wednesday, the Brazilian Court of Auditors ordered Jair Bolsonaro to hand over the jewels in his possession to the authorities within five days. The latter also denies any irregularity. The panel also urged the former president to return firearms he received as a gift from the United Arab Emirates in 2019 to the official presidency collection.
The Court of Auditors has also called for the opening of an investigation into all gifts offered abroad under the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022).
This scandal hits the former far-right president while he is still in the United States, where he has lived since late December 2022, after wanting to leave Brazil when his successor, the leader of Lula, left. This case is all the more sensitive as Jair Bolsonaro has indicated that he will soon return to Brazil to resume his position as leader of the opposition to the government there.