Brazilian federal police are questioning former president Jair Bolsonaro about allegedly attempting to sneak in diamond jewellery reportedly worth three million dollars (£2.3 million) and the sale of two luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia while in office, federal authorities said.
Mr Bolsonaro arrived on Thursday morning at Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, a federal police spokesperson confirmed to journalists waiting outside the premises, including one from The Associated Press (AP).
Another federal police officer confirmed to the AP that he and seven others were summoned to answer questions about the jewellery.
Aside from Mr Bolsonaro, police also questioned his wife Michelle, two lawyers, former aide Lt Col Mauro Cid, Lt Col Cid’s father, Osmar Crivelatti and Marcelo Camara, the officer said.
The simultaneous sessions were reportedly designed to prevent the individuals from exchanging information on the line of questioning.
According to newspaper Folha de S.Paulo and other local media, Mr Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle chose to remain silent.
The outlets cited the couple’s lawyers, who did not respond to several requests for comments from the AP.
The hearings pose another potential blow for the embattled far-right leader, who is also the target of several other investigations.
Earlier this month, federal police raided the homes and offices of several people purportedly involved in the jewellery case and alleged Mr Bolsonaro received nearly 70,000 dollars (£55,000) for the sale of two luxury watches gifted from Saudi Arabia.
Mr Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.
His lawyers did not respond to a request for comments from the AP.
The investigation into the undeclared jewellery is just one of many legal headaches Mr Bolsonaro faces.
Earlier this year, he was ruled ineligible to run for office until 2030 after a panel of judges concluded he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system.
Another investigation revolves around Lt Col Cid’s arrest in May for allegedly falsifying Covid-19 vaccine cards for his own family and Mr Bolsonaro’s family during the pandemic.
A parliamentary commission of inquiry is also investigating whether Mr Bolsonaro incited the January 8 riots in which his supporters ransacked the Supreme Court, the presidential palace and Congress one week after leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was inaugurated as president.
