STF orders Prosecutor General to open investigation against Bolsonaro in Covaxin case

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR) on Friday, 2, requested the opening of an investigation at the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to investigate President Jair Bolsonaro for dereliction of duty after he was advised of possible irregularities in the R$1.6 billion (US$320 million) contract for the purchase of 20 million doses of the Indian vaccine Covaxin.

The PGR also requested a delay before starting its investigation, seeking to begin only after the Covid CPI had finished its work.

STF Justice Rosa Weber denied the request for delay, and ordered the PGR to begin its investigation immediately.

In the investigation, the PGR will be allowed to question the STF, request information from the Federal Comptroller General (CGU), the Federal Audit Court (TCU) and the Covid CPI investigative committee, present evidence, including through witnesses, and hear the alleged perpetrators, including the president and the Miranda brothers.

The case, which involves the purchase of Covaxin vaccines, is one of the main focuses of the Covid CPI. Last week, Ministry of Health employee Luis Ricardo Miranda reported to the CPI that he suffered “atypical pressure” from his superiors in the portfolio to expedite the process of importing the vaccine to Brazil.

He and his brother, Federal Deputy Luis Miranda (DEM-DF), claim they personally informed President Bolsonaro of what was happening, but the president did nothing.