Bolsonaro testifies to the PF in the case of jewelry with a strong security scheme

Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) will testify to the Federal Police, this Wednesday (5), starting at 2:30 pm, about the case of the jewelry he received as a gift from Saudi Arabia. As the testimony will be in person, a strong security scheme was set up at the PF headquarters, in Brasília, and traffic on the roads close to the building must undergo changes.

The taking of testimony is part of the PF investigations that were requested by the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, after the newspaper revealed Estadão that the Federal Revenue Service seized a set of jewelry given to the former president as a gift, with an estimated value of almost R$ 17 million. The investigation launched investigates alleged crimes of embezzlement, embezzlement and money laundering.

In a note, Jair Bolsonaro’s defense stated that the ex-president’s testimony “will be an opportunity for him to provide all the necessary information. It is a routine procedural act, when he will clarify that he always acted in accordance with the legislation that regulates the gift offerings from foreign governments”.

Ten testimonies will be collected by the PF, simultaneously and in different rooms, according to information from CNN Brasil. Among the people who will be heard are the assistant to the former Chief Executive, Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, in addition to Bolsonaro government advisors and Federal Revenue inspectors.

remember the case

The report by “Estado de S. Paulo” that revealed the case of the jewels was published on March 4. According to the newspaper, the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) tried to bring to Brazil illegally, without paying taxes, jewelry (necklace, ring, watch and a pair of earrings) and a diamond watch from the famous Swiss brand Chopard which, together, would be worth around R$16.5 million.

The case came to light after a direct assistant to the then Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, was approached by Federal Revenue inspectors upon landing at Guarulhos Airport. He arrived from Riyadh, where he accompanied the minister to an event on clean energy promoted by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The items seized from the assistant had not been declared and the auditors informed the advisor and the minister that they would only be released if they paid tax of 50% of the value plus a fine of 25%, which would amount to R$ 12.3 million, or dealt with to incorporate the assets into the Presidency’s acquis.

The report says that there were four attempts by the former president to obtain the release of the parts, involving his own office, the ministries of Economy, Mines and Energy and Foreign Affairs and the military. The last attack would have taken place on December 29, days before the president ended his term.

As soon as the case took on enormous repercussions, in early March, the former president said he was being “crucified” for a gift he neither asked for nor received. “There is no illegality on my part,” he told CNN Brasil.

The jewelry case was judged by the ministers of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU). By unanimous decision, the ministers determined a deadline for the return of the jewels. The TCU also determined a complete audit from 2019 to 2022 of all gifts that Bolsonaro received on behalf of the government. According to the court, only items of lesser value, perishable and of a very personal nature, such as T-shirts and caps, can be incorporated into the private collection of the President of the Republic.

In response to a determination by the TCU, lawyers for former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) delivered this Tuesday (4) the last and third package of jewelry presented by Saudi Arabia, which includes a Rolex watch. The delivery took place at a Caixa branch in Brasília.