Brazil Probes Bolsonaro Family Over COVID-19 Fund Misuse
A top judge in Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has greenlit a major investigation into former President Jair Bolsonaro, his son and congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, and 22 of their close aides. The probe targets alleged corruption and embezzlement of public funds during the COVID-19 pandemic response. This move comes after Brazil’s Federal Police pushed for it, based on a detailed report from the country’s COVID-19 Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI).
Justice Flavio Dino shared the key details in his ruling. "The CPI uncovered strong evidence of crimes against public administration, including shady contracts, tender fraud, overpricing, misuse of public money, and deals with shell companies for fake or generic services," he explained. He approved the Federal Police’s request and kicked off the investigation with a 60-day initial timeline to dig deeper.
The CPI report, finalized back in October 2021, slammed Bolsonaro and his team for decisions that slowed down Brazil’s pandemic fight. It called for holding those involved accountable, spotlighting how mismanagement may have cost lives and wasted resources.
This isn’t the only heat on Bolsonaro right now. Just last week on September 11, Brazil’s highest court slapped him with a 27-year-and-three-month prison sentence for plotting a coup in 2022. The ruling has stirred up plenty of debate about accountability for Brazil’s former leader.
On a personal note, Bolsonaro got some good news amid the legal storm. He was recently discharged from DF Star Hospital in Brasilia after treatment for skin cancer. Doctors diagnosed two of eight removed skin lesions as "squamous cell carcinoma in situ," a type of early-stage skin cancer. After intravenous therapy, his symptoms improved, but he’ll need ongoing check-ups and monitoring. He headed home around noon and is now under house arrest as part of his legal restrictions.
As Brazil’s corruption probes into COVID-19 scandals heat up, many eyes are on what this investigation uncovers next. Stay tuned for updates on the Bolsonaro case and Brazil’s push for transparency in public funds.
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