Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, faces charges of fraud by the federal police for purportedly falsifying COVID vaccine data during his tenure, as reported by CNN Brasil on Tuesday.

Allegedly, Bolsonaro instructed a close aide to input fabricated vaccination data into the Ministry of Health's system, both for himself and his daughter, according to police sources.

Police assert that evidence gathered during the investigation suggests Bolsonaro's active involvement in the falsification of vaccination records within the national health system.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro's trusted aide, along with 15 others, also face charges related to their alleged participation in the same fraudulent scheme.

Jair Bolsonaro's attorney, Fabio Wajngarten, denounced the indictment as "absurd," stating that Bolsonaro's stance on vaccination is widely known.

He further argued that as president, Bolsonaro was not required to provide vaccination certificates during his official travels.

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Jair Bolsonaro's Stance on COVID Vaccine

During the pandemic, Jair Bolsonaro stood out among world leaders for his outspoken opposition to vaccines, AP reports.

He openly disregarded health guidelines and urged fellow Brazilians to do the same.

His government rejected multiple offers from Pfizer to supply tens of millions of vaccine doses in 2020.

Bolsonaro also criticized the Sao Paulo state governor's decision to purchase vaccines from the Chinese company Sinovac when no other options were available.

The decision on whether to pursue charges against Bolsonaro rests with Brazil's prosecutor-general's office, which will decide whether to bring the case to the Supreme Court.

This indictment is just one of several investigations targeting Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022.

Bolsonaro's lawyer, Fábio Wajngarten, denounced the indictment as "absurd" and claimed he hadn't seen it.

Wajngarten argued that as president, Bolsonaro was not required to provide vaccination certificates during his travels.

He characterized the indictment as political persecution aimed at undermining Bolsonaro's significant political influence.

During questioning in May 2023, the former president maintained his innocence.

Meanwhile, Gleisi Hoffmann, chairwoman of the Workers' Party, which defeated Bolsonaro's candidate, welcomed his indictment on social media.

She expressed hope that Bolsonaro would face trial for various other alleged offenses, including attempting to smuggle $3 million worth of diamond jewelry into the country and selling luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia while in office.

Brazil's Former President Faces Fraud Accusations Amid Pandemic Crisis

Nearly 700,000 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Brazil, as per Johns Hopkins University in the US, according to BBC.

Federal police accuse Mr. Bolsonaro, known for playing down the seriousness of the virus, along with eight others, of conspiring to issue "false certificates to gain unfair advantages" during the pandemic.

Many countries, including the US, made vaccination a requirement for entry.

Brazil's attorney general's office will determine whether to charge the former president.

He denies the accusations, claiming authorities are attempting to frame him.

This new indictment adds to a series of legal battles Jair Bolsonaro faces.

Previously, he surrendered his passport due to an investigation into allegations of trying to overturn the October 2022 election results and pressuring military leaders to support a coup attempt.

Following his defeat to left-winger Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva in the presidential election, thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, including the presidential palace, the Supreme Court, and Congress, resulting in looting and vandalism.

Bolsonaro is banned from running for office for eight years due to undermining Brazil's electoral system and baselessly claiming fraud in the last election.

During the attack on Congress, Bolsonaro was in the US. He returned to Brazil in March 2023, asserting he had no reason to fear.

Despite his setbacks, Bolsonaro remains a significant figure for the right wing in Brazilian politics.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro indicted over alleged falsification of vaccination status - From Associated Press