Michelle lied: second set of Saudi jewelry was personally delivered to the former first lady, says civil servant.
The revelations place the former first lady within the case and show that Bolsonaro was not the only one who knew about the alleged "gifts."
247 - A Planalto Palace employee, in testimony to the Federal Police (PF) as part of the investigation into the case of Saudi jewelry illegally smuggled into Brazil during the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) administration, denied former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro's version of events. According to the woman, contrary to Michelle's statement, the second jewelry set was hand-delivered to the then-First Lady.
Report by newspaper The newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reveals that the set was delivered to Michelle on November 29, 2022, at the Palácio da Alvorada, the official residence of the Presidents of the Republic, and personally inspected by then-President Jair Bolsonaro, according to the civil servant.
Since the case came to light, the former first lady has denied knowing about the jewelry. However, the revelations place Michelle directly within the case and show that Bolsonaro wasn't the only one aware of the alleged "gifts."
"The details were shared with the delegates in a statement given by an employee of the Deputy Office of Historical Documentation (GADH), who worked in the department during the Bolsonaro administration. This department provides services to the Personal Office of the President of the Republic and is responsible for receiving and sorting official gifts," the report highlights.
According to the text, "the employee reported that in November of last year, that is, more than a year after the kit illegally entered Brazil, the general coordinator of GADH, Erick Moutinho Borges, informed her that the set of jewels would arrive at the department to be incorporated into the collection of then-President Jair Bolsonaro."
The employee testified that upon receiving the box, she was informed by Ministry of Mines and Energy officials that Bolsonaro had already seen the gift. After evaluation, it was instructed that the kit be delivered directly to the Alvorada Palace. The "gift" was then "received by Pastor Francisco de Assis Castelo Branco, Michelle's right-hand man and who acted as a kind of 'trustee' of the official residence. In his contact with the employee, Castelo Branco was clear, informing her that the box with the jewels was already in the possession of the First Lady, Michelle Bolsonaro," the report highlights.