Bolsonaro Faces Criminal Charges for Embezzling $3.2 Million in Jewelry and Smuggling Allegations

In November, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was officially charged with embezzling $3.2 million (€2.96 million) worth of jewelry he received during his term as head of state, according to a report on news website G1. The jewelry included a diamond necklace, a ring, a watch, and earrings that were given to him and his wife as gifts from the Saudi Arabian government and other sources. Some of these items were discovered in the luggage of a government employee returning from Riyadh in October 2021 and were confiscated by customs officials at Sao Paolo International Airport.

Bolsonaro’s successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called for an investigation into the matter after one of his cabinet ministers described Bolsonaro’s actions as “smuggling.” Bolsonaro’s lawyer has not yet responded to requests for comments on the matter. Last year, police raided the homes of several military officers who allegedly assisted Bolsonaro in selling jewelry to the United States without proper reporting. This marks the second time Bolsonaro is facing criminal accusations, with the first incident being in March when he was charged with falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination records.