Understand the case of the jewelry that would be for Michelle Bolsonaro – 03/04/2023 – Politics

In October 2021, a military adviser to the then Minister Bento Albuquerque (Mines and Energy) tried to land in Brazil with a series of luxury items in his backpack. As the goods had not been declared, they were seized by the Federal Revenue Service.

Here’s what’s already known about the case:

Who would these articles be for? According to former minister Bento Albuquerque told Sheetwould be gifts from the government of Saudi Arabia to Jair Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro and that would make up the historic collection of the Presidency.

The former holder of Mines and Energy said it was customary to exchange gifts at international events involving two countries. As the ex-manager and his wife did not attend, the entourage brought the boxes given as a gift by the Saudi government.

What does the former first lady say? On a social network, Michelle denied being the recipient of the jewelry, but gave no further explanations and joked: “You mean ‘I have all this’ and I didn’t know? My God! appropriateness of this press [sic] vexing,” he posted on Instagram.

What does Bolsonaro say? Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Saturday (4) that he had neither asked for nor received any kind of jewelry gift from the Saudi Arabian government. Bolsonaro refers to him specifically, when denying involvement in the case.

“I am being accused of a gift that I neither asked for nor received. There is no illegality on my part. Brazil.

Who was on the trip to Saudi Arabia? Among the members of the entourage were former Minister Bento Albuquerque (Mines and Energy) and his adviser Marcos André dos Santos Soeiro. Bolsonaro was in Brazil — on October 25, he attended a lunch at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Brasília.

What items were seized? A pair of earrings, a ring, a necklace and a watch, all made with precious stones, as well as a horse-shaped ornament with gold trim. The items were in the luggage of Soeiro, the minister’s advisor.

Why were the items seized by the Revenue? According to the rules in force, goods acquired abroad with a value greater than US$ 1,000 (a little over R$ 5,000) must be declared to the Revenue upon entry into Brazil. When they exceed this amount, they are subject to the charge of Import Tax, which is 50% on the surplus.

As there was no declaration, the agency seized the goods and demanded payment of the Import Tax, offering the option for the Ministry of Mines and Energy to formally request recognition of the condition of the goods as Union property —which would unlock the items without the payment need.

What is the value of the seized items? Who made this review? The value of the jewels, of 3 million euros (about R$ 16.5 million), was estimated by the team of auditors of the Revenue and would support the offer in the auction. This assessment revised the price initially estimated by the inspectors — which, when the jewelry was seized, estimated it at around US$ 1 million.

O What does the adviser and the former minister allege? Soeiro did not comment on the case. To the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo Bento Albuquerque said that the shipment was a gift for Michelle, but said he did not know the contents of the jewelry case. Later sought by Sheetdenied that his team tried to bring expensive gifts intended for Bolsonaro and Michelle.

What measures has the Bolsonaro government adopted? According to documents released by former members of the Bolsonaro government, the MME tried, between October and November 2021, to recover the jewels, claiming that they would be analyzed for incorporation “into the private collection of the President of the Republic or the public collection of the Presidency of the Republic”. According to the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, attempts to try to release the valuable items continued in 2022, without success.

Did former president Jair Bolsonaro commit himself directly to releasing the parts? Why? According to Estado de S. Paulo, a Bolsonaro government official took a FAB plane and landed at Guarulhos airport, saying he was there to pick them up. There would have been four attempts by the former president to recover the precious stones, involving his own cabinet, three ministries (Economy, Mines and Energy and Foreign Affairs) and the military.

What happens from now on? Lula’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, said he will ask the Federal Police to investigate the case.