CGU will investigate case of Saudi jewelry seized in the Bolsonaro government

The Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) opened, this Tuesday (7), an investigation into the case of jewelry withheld by the Federal Revenue. The luxury items, valued at more than BRL 16.5 million, were seized with the entourage of former president Jair Bolsonaro’s minister, and would be a gift for and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro of Saudi Arabia.

The Preliminary Summary Investigation (IPS) is preparatory and not punitive, clarifies the CGU. The objective is to collect information about the performance of servers and authorities in the case. As revealed by Estadão, former minister Bento Albuquerque and his advisor Marcos André Soeiro tried to return to Brazil through Guarulhos Airport, in São Paulo, with the jewels, in addition to a sculpture in the shape of a horse, without declaring the assets.

At various times, the federal government acted to recover the parts without paying the import taxes and fines required by the Federal Revenue for high-value items to enter the country. Bodies such as the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the President of the Republic and the General Secretary of Revenue, Julio Cesar Vieira Gomes, acted to recover the material, without success.

“The measure is supported by art. 4, item VIII, of Decree nº 5.480/2005 (which provides for the Correction System of the Federal Executive Power) and was taken due to the authorities supposedly involved in the case, the possible participation of public servants from more than one federal agency and, consequently, the complexity of the investigation”, informed the CGU in a note.

The investigation initiated by the CGU may result in dismissal if no evidence is found of the commission of an administrative offense by a federal public servant. If the investigation finds irregularities, the CGU can institute a Disciplinary Administrative Proceeding (PAD) to hold those responsible responsible or, if the infraction is considered of “less offensive potential”, a Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC) is signed.

Understand

On October 26, 2021, representatives of the Bolsonaro government brought a diamond ring, necklace, watch and earrings. The jewels, however, ended up being learned at São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos. They were in the backpack of an advisor to the then Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, Marcos André dos Santos Soeiro, who was in the Middle East with the minister’s entourage.

The case was revealed this Friday (3/3) by the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo. Despite attempts to rescue the pieces, involving Bolsonaro’s presidential office, three ministries (Economy; Mines and Energy; and Foreign Affairs) and the military, the items remain withheld at the Federal Revenue Service.

According to Estadão, the jewelry was about to be included in an auction by the Federal Revenue of items seized for tax evasion. That decision was suspended, however, because the necklace, the earrings, the watch and the ring started to be framed as evidence of a crime.

From October 2021 until the end of his term, in December 2022, Bolsonaro tried, by various means, to recover the jewels, without success. The only way to release the objects would be to pay the import tax, equivalent to 50% of the price of the jewels, in addition to paying a 25% fine, which would cost R$ 12.3 million.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security informed that the fact will be investigated by the Federal Police (PF).

According to the minister of the portfolio, Flávio Dino, the fact could constitute crimes of embezzlement, embezzlement and money laundering, among other possible crimes.

What those involved say

Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) denied illegality in the case. “I am being accused of a gift I neither asked for nor received. There is no illegality on my part. I never practiced illegality,” Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil.

On social networks, Michelle mocked the possession of the jewelry. “You mean I have all this and I didn’t know? My God! You’re going too far huh?! I am laughing at the inappropriateness of this vexatious (sic) press,” she wrote.

Former minister Bento Albuquerque has given different versions. After telling Estadão that the jewels were a gift for the Bolsonaro couple, he told the newspaper O Globo that the pieces would be “duly incorporated into the official Brazilian collection”. The former assistant also said that, at the time, he was unaware of the contents of the package.

* With information from the Metrópoles website

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