Nobody knew what was inside, says Flávio about jewelry – 03/19/2023 – Power

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) said in an interview with Sheet that there was no particular interest in the operation to try to release the jewelry and watch set, valued at BRL 16.5 million, which would have been for former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro and was retained by the Revenue Service at the airport in Guarulhos (SP).

“Nobody knew what was in there. It could have been a glass of water, nobody knew. And, if there was bad faith, nobody would make the journey to pass through the Revenue’s x-ray, they wouldn’t bring it on a commercial flight”, he said. .

He rejects that the gift was given in return for some benefit from Saudi Arabia and considers that there was a lack of knowledge about how to clear the jewels at customs on the part of advisors to Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

“I don’t see any illegality. So much so that the section was left there for more than a year, without the knowledge, including Michelle. So, there was no particular interest in benefiting from it”, he declared.

The former president received jewels from Saudi Arabia that are valued at around in R$ 16.5 million. According to the first version of former minister Bento Albuquerque, these jewels would be for the first lady. Afterwards, he said they would go to the State collection. Why were these gifts not declared? There’s not much to talk about other than what his lawyer has already said. The gifts came sealed from there to here. If he had bad faith, he would not go through the X-ray of the Revenue. Might as well have taken it outside and come here without anyone knowing. I don’t see illegality. So much so that the section was left there for over a year, without even knowing Michelle. So he had no particular interest in benefiting from it. I think the press is making the mistake of trying to tie any benefit to Saudi Arabia to this gift.

Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) changed his version. First, he said that there was no gift, then he said that there was and that he was going to the State. Why did he change versions? I don’t know, you have to ask him. But honestly, I’m not even bringing this up with him.

Mr. said Michelle didn’t know about the jewelry. I’m repeating what she said, what she posted on social media.

Who knew then? The people who were there [na Arábia Saudita], who brought them here. Minister Bento, his adviser. And again, I don’t see any bad faith on their part.

But wouldn’t he have warned the president that he was returning from the country with these gifts? You have to ask him too.

What was said when they delivered these gifts? I don’t know. I was not there. Not even President Bolsonaro was at that hearing. The minister went there to represent him. But, from what I can see, he took a sealed box and brought it here to formalize the delivery to whoever would be the gifts. And there was the Public Ethics Committee of the Executive that saw no problem with this type of gift. So, he followed technical guidance.

The president’s aide, Cid, went there… It was at the end of government. I think he just tried to reduce bureaucracy there, but I also see that there was a lack of knowledge on how to do this clearance.

Why this effort at the end, just when the president lost the elections? For you to see, they didn’t care so much about the gifts that this has been stopped since 2021. Then when you went to do the survey, I believe, of everything that has the collection there, you have to take the change from Alvorada and take it somewhere, you can’t leave President Bolsonaro’s things for the next president. It is along this line of reasoning.

So would it stay for the next president? I don’t know. From what I understand, from what I’m seeing for you in the press, this would go to the public collection.

But another package, with part of the jewels, stayed with former President Bolsonaro.. OK. He said that he received it, he went to the Ethics Committee of the Presidency and said that it could stay in the private collection and he complied with the law, that’s all.

For gifts valued at that amount, it would not be appropriate for him to assess that this should be a public collection. The law is vague. So much so that the TCU is saying there has to be a legal change to make it objective.

Mr. said the jewels were sealed, nobody knew what was there. But Bolsonaro spoke with the then head of Revenue Federal over the phone in December and took personal action to try to withdraw these gifts from the IRS. No. He didn’t act personally. He was his assistant, to untangle everything he had there, personal or for the public collection. In the change of government, he had to take measures.

There have been attempts by ministers [de retirar as joias da Receita ao longo de 2021]. Trying to settle. What they failed to do, once again, I think was due to lack of knowledge of the bureaucracy.

Is it the fault of former Minister Bento? I do not see his fault in this matter either. If I give you a sealed gift and say “hey, give it to your husband”, will you open it? No. You will take the present and give it to your husband.

But a gift from Saudi Arabia… No one knew what was in there. It could have been a glass of water, nobody knew. And if there was bad faith, no one would make the trip to go through the Revenue’s x-ray, they wouldn’t bring it on a commercial flight.

Since when this case arose, it has loose ends and until now the president has not been able to explain exactly what happened. What did he not explain? It’s such a small thing. It’s a push to divert from the real problems in Brazil. He chose to ignore it. Let the authorities investigate at will.

Mr. even announced that Bolsonaro would return on March 15, but withdrew. Does it have to do with the jewelry business? It has nothing to do. New commitments emerged in the United States. He continues to make contacts there with Brazilians, with people from the Republican Party.

X-ray

Flavio Bolsonaro, 41
Born in Rio de Janeiro, he is a lawyer and businessman, graduated in law from Universidade Cândido Mendes. He was a state deputy four times, from 2003 to 2018, when he was elected for his first term as a senator of the Republic. He ran for Mayor of Rio in 2016 and ended up in fourth place, losing to Marcelo Crivella (Republicans). He is the eldest of the five children of Jair Bolsonaro (PL).