Brazil Launches Probe on Jair Bolsonaro's Saudi Jewelry

Brazil has ordered a police probe on former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and the controversial Saudi jewelry, with allegations that government staff under Bolsonaro tried to bring millions of dollars worth of jewelry into the country.

Al Jazeera reported that Brazil's Justice Minister Flavio Dino announced the probe on Monday. Police were called to probe whether Bolsonaro's staff tried to cross the border without following the "legal procedures" when it comes to government gifts or high-value items.

The involved Saudi jewelry items were a set of earrings, a necklace, a ring, and a watch by the Swiss brand Chopard. It was a gift to Bolsonaro by the Saudi Arabian government when he was still in office.

A current cabinet member has called the incident of trying to enter the country without following the proper protocols for the said items an act of "smuggling."

Critics voiced out that the jewelry should have been documented and surrendered to the government as part of the presidential collection as it was a gift to the state.

Jair Bolsonaro on Saudi Jewelry

The jewelry set was found in luggage that belonged to an adviser to Bolsonaro's mines and energy minister in Sao Paulo's international airport. It was earlier reported by O Estado Sao Paulo newspaper, according to The Washington Post.

The jewelry set was given during the 2021 Middle East summit attendance of the minister in Saudi Arabia.

Goods brought from abroad worth more than $1,000 must be declared for taxation, as stated under Brazilian law. However, the document obtained by the local media that first reported the incident noted that the jewelry was not declared.

The former communications chief, Fabip Wajngarten, wrote on his social media account that the box was sealed and was only opened in Brazil by customs and authorities.

Meanwhile, the former president commented on the matter, saying there was no illegal activity on his side.

Bolsonaro added in his statement that he is being accused of a gift he never asked for nor received.

Investigators will now probe whether Bolsonaro was trying to get the jewelry secretly into Brazil to avoid taxes or prevent it from going into the presidency's public collection.

Jair Bolsonaro in The United States

Bolsonaro recently delivered a speech in the United States, saying that his missing was "still not over," suggesting that he could be planning a possible presidential run in 2026, as reported by Reuters.

He is staying in Florida after losing his re-election bis last year. The former Brazilian president did not mention when he planned to return to Brazil despite being asked to lead the right-wing opposition.

Bolsonaro has also refused to concede defeat to the current Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He is also facing growing legal responsibilities for several criminal and electoral probes in Brazil.

Last October, he questioned the results of the Brazilian elections. Bolsonaro claimed that he could not understand how the ballot count failed to show the support he seemed to have in public.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Brazil's Bolsonaro Says 'Mission Still Not Over' In Speech To U.S. CPAC | CPAC Summit | USA News - from CNN-News 18