Jair Bolsonaro's Jewelry Scandal: A Timeline of Events
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been implicated in an illegal scheme involving the sale of jewelry and luxury items valued at $1.2 million, according to a police investigation published on Monday. The events allegedly occurred between October 2019 and the end of his far-right mandate in 2022.
Police Investigation and Indictment Recommendations
Last week, federal police recommended the indictment of Jair Bolsonaro and 11 others on charges of criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and embezzlement. Bolsonaro, who has labeled the numerous legal investigations against him as 'persecution,' denies any wrongdoing. His lawyer, Paulo Cunha, asserted on social media platform X that Brazilian leaders 'had no direct or indirect influence' on the management of official gifts.
Details of the Illicit Scheme
The police investigation revealed that a group acted to divert valuable gifts received by Bolsonaro during international trips, gifts that were given by foreign authorities. The operation aimed to sell the jewelry abroad to illicitly enrich the former president. Some pieces were sold, and the proceeds were reportedly converted into cash and added to Bolsonaro's personal assets without going through the formal banking system.
Financial Discrepancies and Legal Proceedings
Initially, the value of the gifts was reported to be $4.5 million but was later corrected to $1.22 million. At least $25,000 was reportedly paid directly to Bolsonaro. The Bolsonaro camp has used these corrections to discredit the police report. Judge Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) has given the public prosecutor's office 15 days to decide whether to formally charge the former president.
The Brazilian press first revealed the affair in March 2023 after tax agents seized jewelry found in the backpack of a government official returning from an official trip to the Middle East in 2021. Among the seized items were a ring, necklace, and earrings from the Swiss brand Chopard, worth approximately $828,000, as well as gold and diamond Chopard and Rolex watches.
Aftermath and Recovery of Assets
Following the revelation, advisers to Bolsonaro recovered and returned some of the sold objects to the state. According to federal police, the sums obtained from the sale of the jewelry could have been used to cover Bolsonaro's expenses in the United States, where he stayed for a few months after his mandate.
