Brazil police to probe Bolsonaro's bank accounts
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Jair and Michelle Bolsonaro are accused of embezzling jewelry and official gifts while they were in office.
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Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaking to the press outside his home after Federal Police agents carried out a search and seizure warrant in Brasilia on May 3, 2023. (AP)
According to media reports, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge has given police permission to search the bank accounts of Jair and Michelle Bolsonaro, who are accused of embezzling jewelry and official gifts while they were in office.
Brazilian authorities are investigating Jair Bolsonaro's participation in the theft of official gifts, which initially made headlines in March.
The controversy involved lavish gifts from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and first made news three months after Bolsonaro stepped down following his loss of the election last October.
According to one of Brazil's conservative publications, in October 2021, Sao Paulo airport customs authorities intercepted a €3 million (£2.6 million) set of diamond earrings that a military official traveling with one of Bolsonaro's ministers attempted to bring in his backpack without registering. Bolsonaro administration attempted, but failed, to retrieve the jewelry, which was allegedly a gift from Saudi Arabia to the then-first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro allies in Brazil and the United States are also being probed by federal police, according to Brazilian media, including G1, a news site.
Read next: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro seeks US visa to avoid probe
Last week, Justice of the Supreme Court (JASPERA) Alexandre De Moraes gave the green light for federal police to look into the Bolsonaro's bank and tax files in Brazil, as well as seek access to their financial records in the US, G1 reported.
Moraes also ordered police to raid the homes of several of Bolsonaro's allies last week, according to G1.
Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and reiterated Friday while speaking to journalists that he was a victim of political persecution.
In the most recent development in the case, seven high-ranking members of the Brazilian police were arrested Friday on charges of corruption and attempted coup d'etat. The arrests include the former chief and deputy chief of the capital’s military police.
A statement by prosecutors alleged that those arrested had "joined the protesters" and been "derelict in their duties to protect and safeguard,"citing evidence of "deep ideological contamination" within the force.
Bolsonaro out of public office until 2030, court rules
In June, the former Brazilain President barred the far-right nationalist from holding public office until 2030 for his behavior during the 2022 contentious election.
Five out of seven justices voted to convict the 68-year-old Bolsonaro for abuse of power and misuse of the media over charges whereby in July, before the 2022 election, he summoned ambassadors to vent unfounded claims about Brazil's electronic voting system.
The former President is being tried by the tribunal on allegations that he abused his position and state media to spread false information about security holes in Brazil's electronic voting system.
A week after the inauguration of leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro's supporters invaded the presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court on January 8. Prosecutors have connected these actions to Bolsonaro's statements. Lula had defeated Bolsonaro in last October's elections.
