TCU minister prohibits Bolsonaro from wearing or selling jewelry – 03/09/2023 – Power

The Minister of the Federal Audit Court Augusto Nardes prohibited former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) from using or selling luxury items sent to him as a gift from the Saudi Arabian government through former Minister Bento Albuquerque (Minas e Energia ).

In a decision published on Thursday night (9), Nardes determined that Bolsonaro must preserve “intact, as a trustee, until further deliberation by this Court of Auditors, refraining from using, disposing or disposing of any piece from the collection of jewels subject to the process under examination”.

In October 2021, Albuquerque led an entourage to an international event in Saudi Arabia. On his return, an advisor to the then minister had a set of luxury items seized from the Revenue Service at the airport in Guarulhos (SP), including a necklace, earrings, a ring and a watch by the Swiss brand Chopard. The value of these objects was estimated at around R$ 16 million.

A second case entered the country without a declaration to the Revenue and was incorporated into Bolsonaro’s personal collection. It contained a watch, pen, cufflinks, a type of rosary and a ring, also by the Swiss brand Chopard. There is no estimated value of this second package.

In theory, Nardes’ decision affects this second package of gifts, since the first is still held up at customs in Guarulhos.

The TCU minister also decided to hold hearings with Bolsonaro and Bento Albuquerque so that they can express their views on the signs of irregularity in the entry of items into Brazil.

Among the questions, Bolsonaro and his former minister will have to answer what were the gifts received on the occasion of the visit to Saudi Arabia; which ones are in possession of the ex-president at the moment and what destination should be given to each one of them.

They will also have to talk about whether the gifts brought would be very personal from the former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro and the former president or if they would be incorporated into the Union’s collection.

In addition, they will need to clarify what measures are taken to pay the due taxes and whether there was guidance for sending a server on a FAB (Brazilian Air Force) plane to try to clear the seized luxury items at customs.