Ex President Faces Probe Over $3.2m Jewelry

Brazil’s Justice Minister Flavio Dino has ordered federal police to investigate reports that ex-president Jair Bolsonaro tried to illegally import jewelry worth $3.2 million gifted to him by Saudi Arabia.

The minister made the order on Monday, as tax officials probe a second present of jewels, according to Reuters.

The far-right former president has faced avalanche of questions over the jewels since newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo reported on Friday that customs officers blocked an aide to his former mines and energy minister, Bento Albuquerque, from bringing them into Brazil without paying the required import duty after an official trip in October 2021.

According to the newspaper, Bolsonaro administration officials intervened at least eight times to try to convince customs officers to release the diamond jewels — a necklace, a ring, a watch and a pair of earrings from Swiss luxury house Chopard — that had been given to the president’s wife.

However, Bolsonaro has denied all of these allegations levelled against him.