Former President Jair Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle Bolsonaro.| Photo: Isac Nóbrega/PR

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in the Federal District opened, this Friday (17), a preliminary procedure to investigate former president Jair Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro for embezzlement in the case of jewelry brought from Saudi Arabia. . The information was released by Portal G1.

The procedure was opened after a complaint made by federal deputy Luciane Cavalcanti (PSOL/SP). Attorney Caio Vaez Dias is in charge of the case.

Last Wednesday (15), the ministers of the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) determined a period of 5 days for Bolsonaro to return the jewelry from the second case. The court also responded to the suggestion of Minister Benjamin Zymler and ordered the delivery of a rifle and a pistol that Bolsonaro received as a gift in 2019 from the United Arab Emirates. The determination must be fulfilled by March 22.

After the TCU’s decision, the former president’s defense stated that he will hand over the goods received to the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic. The objects that are with Bolsonaro include a watch, pen, cuff links and a ring, brought from Arabia in 2021, and weapons that he would have received as a gift from the United Arab Emirates in 2019.

The case of the jewels came to light, on the 4th, with the report of the “Estado de S. Paulo” informing that the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) would have tried to bring to Brazil illegally, without paying taxes, jewels (necklace, ring, watch and a pair of earrings) and a watch that, together, would be worth around R$ 16.5 million. The Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, called the PF on March 6 to investigate the jewelry package and the TCU determined a hearing with Bolsonaro and Albuquerque about the case. Upon learning of the investigations, the former president denied that the gifts from the Saudi government were for his and his wife’s personal use.