Bolsonaro, jewelry for his wife, a Swiss luxury watch and Saudi Arabia: Brazil’s press in a tizzy

The newspaper O Estado de São Paulo published this Friday (Mar. 3) a strong accusation against former president Jair Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro (both PL).

According to the outlet, the jewelry valued at R$16.5 (over U$3) million would be a gift from the Saudi Arabian government to the former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro.

The objects were in the backpack of the advisor of the then Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, who was part of the federal government delegation in the Middle East in October 2021.

This is because to enter Brazil with goods over US$1,000, a passenger must pay an import tax equivalent to 50% of the product’s value;

When the passenger omits the item, he must also pay an additional fine of 25% of the value.

According to the outlet, former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) allegedly tried to get the gift back at least four times.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy also contacted Itamaraty but could not recover the jewelry.

In an interview with CNN, he denied that he was trying to keep the jewelry illegally: “I am being accused of a gift I neither asked for nor received. There is no illegality on my part.”

“I have never practiced illegality. Look at my personal and corporate cards. I have never withdrawn nor paid a cent on that card.

Michelle Bolsonaro ironized the news: “You mean I ‘have all this’ and was unaware of it? Jesus. You’re going far, aren’t you? I laugh at the futility of this annoying press,” Michelle posted on her Instagram profile.

The television station also said that it received letters describing that the material would be forwarded “to the collection” and that it would have “a proper legal destination”.

SAUDIS SENT WACH AND OTHER JEWELRY; THE RECEIPT SHOWS

A receipt shows that a box of items from the Swiss luxury brand Chopard was delivered to compose the personal collection of the Presidential Palace.

The items, however, are not part of the set of jewelry valued at R$ 16.5 million that the IRS seized at Guarulhos airport (SP) in Oct.2021.

According to the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, this 2nd set was also delivered by the Saudi Arabian government during the Brazilian visit.

It was in the luggage of one of the members of the Brazilian entourage and was not intercepted by the IRS.

The receipt of delivery of the items to the collection indicates that the set is composed of:

The document does not estimate or evaluate how much the objects are worth.

According to the receipt, the person responsible for the delivery on Nov. 29, 2022, was the then-special advisor to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Antônio Carlos Ramos de Barros Mello.

To Folha, he said that the delay in transferring the items to the collection was due to a series of negotiations to define what would be the destination of the set.

“It was handed over [to the Planalto collection in November 2022] because this process took a long time to say who would receive, who would not receive, where it would stay, where it would not stay.”

“It just couldn’t stay in the ministry, and nobody could use it,” said the former aide.

About the 1st set, he said that “what was seized, was seized, even though they said they were institutional gifts.

He said that this “is not an issue that is up to” him and other members of the Bolsonaro government.

“The rest [of the gifts given by Saudi Arabia] that came [to the ministry] was delivered and received by the Presidency,” he said.

BENTO ALBUQUERQUE

The former Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, said on Saturday, Mar.4, that the previous management took the “appropriate measures” regarding the pieces coming from Saudi Arabia.

“Due to the items’ historical, cultural, and artistic values, the ministry forwarded a request so that the collection received would have its proper legal destination,” said the former minister.

He also said that the episode could be confirmed by letters sent to the head of the Office of Historical Documentation of the Presidency of the Republic.

In a note, the former minister stated that he was unaware of the details of the items when he brought them to Brazil.

FEDERAL REVENUE

The Receita Federal said on Saturday, Mar.4, that the Bolsonaro government did not regularize or submit a request with justification to incorporate into the Union’s collection the jewelry brought to Brazil from Saudi Arabia and seized in Guarulhos.

In a statement, the agency said that regularization is possible “upon proof of public ownership and regularization of the customs situation.

This did not happen in the case under review, even after guidance and clarification provided by the IRS to government agencies.

INVESTIGATIONS

The Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Flavio Dino, said he would ask the PF (Federal Police) to investigate the possible attempt by the government of former President Bolsonaro to bring diamond jewelry to Brazil without paying taxes.

In his Twitter profile, Dino declared that the case might “configure the crimes of embezzlement, embezzlement, and money laundering, among other possible offenses.

Deputy Erika Hilton sent on Saturday (Mar. 4) a request for investigation for passive corruption in the case of jewelry to the Attorney General’s Office in the State of São Paulo.

On Monday, Mar. 6, the Psol bench is expected to file a representation with the MP (Public Prosecutor’s Office) to investigate the case.

“Bolsonaro tried to bring diamonds to Brazil illegally and even used a FAB plane to rescue the contraband. We cannot normalize this militia behavior.”

“It is unacceptable that a president of the Republic blatantly uses the government to enrich his own family,” said the party leader in the House of Representatives, Guilherme Boulos (SP).