Brazil Police accuse Bolsonaro of taking USD 5 million, suspect money laundering

Brazilian federal police accuse former president Jair Bolsonaro of receiving large sums of money without apparent justification between March of 2023 and February of 2024 according to documents obtained by The Associated Press potentially adding to the embattled former leaders legal woesInvestigators say Brazils financial watchdog suspects it has a case of money laundering involving Bolsonaro who in early September will face the verdict and sentencing phase of his trial over an alleged coup plotThe former president could face another trial if the attorney general decides to charge him on accusations of obstruction of justice Bolsonaro did not immediately comment on the latest accusation but in the past has claimed he is being persecuted politically by the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da SilvaThe new documents obtained by the AP on Thursday added to a 170page long obstructionofjustice investigation allege Bolsonaro received more than 30 million Brazilian reais 5 million most of it without apparent justification along with debits of almost the same amount during that periodHe was president from Jan 1 2019 to Dec 31 2022 The AP had access to the documents which were sent to the countrys Supreme Court Much of the information of the financial watchdog comes from staterun bank Banco do BrasilAlmost 20 million reais 348 million allegedly came from more than 12 million direct transactions called PIX Bolsonaro spent a similar amount on investments during the period The documents also showed that the former president spent money on wire transfers payment of deposit slips withdrawals and exchange operationsBrazils federal police say in the new documents that Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo used several maneuvers to dissimulate the origin and destination of financial resources with the aim of financing and supporting activities of illegal nature of the lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro living abroadEarlier Bolsonaros lawyers said they were surprised by the federal polices decision to formally accuse him of obstruction of justice The federal police investigation revealed on Wednesday that Bolsonaro considered seeking political asylum in Argentina last year and that he continued to communicate with allies in recent weeks despite precautionary measures that now force him to be under house arrestJustice Alexandre de Moraes who oversees the case told Bolsonaros lawyers late on Wednesday that they had 48 hours to explain why the former president was not complying with measures established for his house arrest orderBolsonaros lawyers denied any wrongdoing in that case There was never noncompliance with any precautionary measure previously imposed the lawyers said in a statement in which they added they will clarify Bolsonaros recent actions to de Moraes in a timely fashionAlso on Thursday one of Bolsonaros lawyers said in a TV interview that the former president never seriously considered seeking political asylum in Argentina Paulo Cunha Bueno told TV GloboNews that Bolsonaro received every kind of suggestion as the investigations on him went forwardSomeone sent him that asylum request in February of 2024 He could have gone but he did not He didnt want it and he was neither in house arrest nor in ankle monitoring He had every condition to flee and he did not Cunha saidBolsonaro claimed in a 33page document to Milei he was being politically persecuted in Brazil documents obtained by federal police show Both are staunch supporters of US President Donald Trump who has recently repeated some of the former presidents claims in his decision to impose 5037 tariffs on Brazilian exportsBolsonaro had his passport seized by Brazils Supreme Court in on Feb 8 2024 He has repeatedly sought to get it back including prior to Trumps inauguration earlier this year De Moraes rejected all requests as the former president is seen as a flight risk Manuel Adorni spokesperson for Milei said the Argentine government hasnt received anything yetA verdict and sentence in the coup trial will come from a Supreme Court panel of five justices They are scheduled to announce their rulings between Sept 2 and 12 The new findings will not be part of that decisionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever