‘Estadão’ has revealed that the second package of jewels from Saudi Arabia is in the private collection of the former president of the Republic
BRASÍLIA – On Wednesday 8, MP Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL) asked the Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) to confiscate the jewels in the possession of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). OR Stadium revealed that Bolsonaro personally received, in November last year, the second package of jewels from Saudi Arabia that arrived in Brazil on behalf of the entourage of the former Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque. The case is in the former president’s private collection. The package contained a watch with a leather strap, a pair of cufflinks, a rose gold pen, a ring and a rose gold masbaha (a kind of Islamic rosary), all from the Swiss brand Chopard.
In the letter sent to the president of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), Bruno Dantas, the deputy Sâmia Bomfim points out that the objects that are currently in Bolsonaro’s possession were not inspected by the Federal Revenue Agency when they entered the country, in the October 2021. The MP also argues that the facts violate the constitutional principles of reasonableness and morality.
“Bolsonaro left a trail of crimes when he took possession of these jewels. The way in which the objects entered Brazil without having been declared to the Revenue Agency has a name: it is smuggling. It is inconceivable that a President of the Republic act like that, sending a government official to hide the jewels in a backpack. These assets belong to the Brazilian state, they belong to the people and we will make sure they are confiscated,” he says. Still no response from the court. This Wednesday, the TCU also opened a trial to investigate the case. The speaker remained with Minister Augusto Nardes, an ally of Bolsonaro. OR Stadium learned from a court member that the fact that the former president incorporated the jewels into his private estate could cause problems.
At first, Bolsonaro denied receiving the jewels. after Stadium revealing that the objects are in his private collection, the former president changed his story, confirmed possession of the jewels and continued to maintain that the possessions are of a “very personal nature”. The defense is based on a ruling by the TCU itself, which resulted in the return of the gifts received by Lula and Dilma Rousseff. At the time, the court understood that very personal items, such as suits and caps, could remain in the private collection of the President of the Republic. The case’s co-sponsor, Minister Walton Alencar, said during the trial that jewels such as an emerald should remain in the public collection.
IRS
Another package of jewelry from Saudi Arabia is being held at customs at Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo. As per Stadium revealed, Jair Bolsonaro’s government has attempted to smuggle into the country a Chopard brand necklace, earrings, ring and wristwatch set, as well as a miniature ornamental horse, worth 3 million euros, the equivalent of R$16, 5 million. This case was also in the baggage of the Albuquerque entourage.
In total, the Bolsonaro government has made eight unsuccessful attempts to recover the jewels. For this he made use of three ministries – Mines and Energy, Economy and Foreign Affairs – in addition to the military one. The registration of the Transparency Portal reveals that the request came from the President of the Republic himself. At Customs, Albuquerque said the jewelry would be for First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro. He refused to claim that the items were a gift from one government to another. If she did, the objects would become part of the public collection, no more than Bolsonaro.
Source: Terra
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