Bolsonaro denies having tried to bring jewelry into Brazil

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Saturday that he had done nothing illegal following reports that he tried to smuggle more than $3 million worth of jewelry into the country in 2021 without declaring it to authorities.

The jewelry — a set of earrings, a necklace, a ring and a Swiss Chopard watch — were a gift from the Saudi government to Bolsonaro when he was president, according to an article in the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo on Friday.

The pieces were found in luggage belonging to an adviser to Bolsonaro’s mines and energy minister at the São Paulo international airport, according to the newspaper. The minister had visited Saudi Arabia after attending a Middle East summit in 2021.

According to Brazilian law, goods purchased abroad that exceed the equivalent of US$1,000 must be declared for tax purposes.

According to a document obtained by the newspaper and later released by the former executive secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Fabio Wajngarten, the jewels were not declared.

Wajngarten wrote on his social networks that the box was sealed and was only opened by the customs authorities in Brazil.

He said that since it was a gift for the president, neither he nor the other members of the delegation attempted to open it.

Investigators will now investigate whether Bolsonaro tried to secretly smuggle the jewelry into Brazil to avoid paying taxes or prevent it from going to the public collection of the presidency.

If he had put them in the public collection, Bolsonaro would have been able to take them with him once he left the presidential office.

On Saturday, Bolsonaro said that he never committed any illegal action and that he is being accused of a gift that he never asked for and never received, according to a statement provided to in Brazil.

Justice Minister Flavio Dino wrote on his social networks that on Monday he will send a letter requesting the police to initiate an investigation for possible money laundering or misappropriation.

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