Rio de generio: Explosive allegations have emerged against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, as his ex-aide's attorney contends that Bolsonaro directed the sale of valuable undisclosed jewelry, received as official gifts, to ultimately benefit himself.
Cezar Bittencourt, the legal representative for Bolsonaro's former right-hand man, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, has revealed that Cid was given explicit instructions by Bolsonaro to sell the luxury jewelry shortly before the president's departure from office in the previous year.
The startling claim was initially reported by Brazilian magazine Veja and has been corroborated by Bittencourt in conversation with The Associated Press.
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According to Bittencourt, in December 2022, Cid inquired about a Rolex watch that Bolsonaro had received as a gift from the Saudi Arabian government in 2019. Bolsonaro allegedly responded by telling Cid to "handle it," leading to the sale of two watches in the United States and the subsequent transfer of funds to Bolsonaro.
Just a week prior, Brazil's Federal Police had formally charged Bolsonaro with benefiting from the sale of these two watches, fetching nearly $70,000.
These timepieces were part of a larger collection of jewelry gifted to the former president by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The importation of the jewelry without proper declaration raised suspicions of illicit activities, such as money laundering and unauthorized possession of government property. This investigation had become public knowledge in March.
While Brazilian law dictates that citizens declare goods exceeding $1,000 when entering the country by air, paying a tax on the surplus, the jewelry, if considered official gifts, should have been exempt from taxation.
However, Bolsonaro's insistence that the jewelry were personal gifts and his subsequent sale of the items have fueled an ongoing debate. Investigators revealed that Bolsonaro only officially registered the jewelry as part of his personal collection shortly before leaving office.
As the scandal gained traction in March, Bolsonaro initially professed ignorance about the gifted items, though his stance has shifted over time. Recently, he asserted in a video to Brazilian newspaper Estadao that Cid held autonomy in handling the jewelry and had not acted on his orders.
Bittencourt's revelation regarding Cid's claims marks the first time the ex-aide has spoken publicly about the jewelry controversy. Cid had previously faced legal trouble, being arrested in May on charges related to falsifying COVID-19 vaccine cards for his family and Bolsonaro's family.
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Additionally, Cid was summoned to testify before a congressional committee investigating the violent January 8th incident involving Bolsonaro's supporters in Brasilia. During the session, Cid remained silent.
Coinciding with these revelations, seven senior military police officers have been apprehended in connection with the January 8th attacks. In a subsequent development, Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes has granted authorization to unveil the bank secrecy of both Bolsonaro and Cid's accounts in the United States. The unfolding events continue to cast a shadow over Bolsonaro's legacy and political career.
