Global Courant 2023-05-17 05:53:28
MEXICO CITY
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro testified on Tuesday about his alleged involvement in COVID-19 certificate fraud at the Federal Police headquarters, as well as messages between his former adviser and a former major about launching a coup against then- newly elected President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. .
Bolsonaro testified for the third time before the Federal Police.
According to investigators, Bolsonaro and some of his close friends faked COVID-19 certificates for himself, his daughter, and his former adviser, Lieut. Colonel Mauro Cid and his family to exceed US vaccination requirements.
The testimony follows “Operation Venire,” where authorities executed 16 search warrants, including Bolsonaro’s residence in Sao Paulo, and arrested prominent regulars such as Cid, Max Guilherme, Sergio Cordeiro and Ailton Barros for their participation in the fake vaccine scheme.
According to prosecutors, Bolsonaro and his allies inserted false data into Brazil’s healthcare system between November 2021 and December 2022 to circumvent health restrictions imposed by authorities during the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and enable them to travel to the United States.
Fabio Wajngarten, Bolsonaro’s communications secretary and one of his close allies, shared the details of the former president’s statement on his Twitter account.
“Bolsonaro reiterated that he and his daughter were unaware of any and all attempts to forge, add, adulterate the vaccination card (and) that there were no vaccines,” Wajngarten wrote.
But after Operation Venire, Guilherme, Bolsonaro’s chief aide, admitted to giving the police his vaccination certificate even without being vaccinated against COVID.
In addition, the Federal Police questioned Bolsonaro about messages received between former Army Major Barros and Cid about a coup attempt against Lula.
Messages from December 2022 also detail a possible plan to imprison Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes.
“Bolsonaro said he did not lead, did not participate in any act of uprising or destruction against the rule of law,” Wajngarten said.
Only a part of the news presented to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS) and in summary form are available on the Anadolu Agency website. Please contact us for subscription options.
