Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro is facing serious legal troubles as he stands accused of tampering with public records and criminal association. According to reports, Bolsonaro allegedly had false information entered into the public health system to make it appear as though he and his daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine. This comes as Bolsonaro skipped the tradition of handing over the presidential sash to his successor and traveled abroad without the necessary vaccination certificate required by U.S. authorities.
If found guilty, Bolsonaro could face up to 12 years in prison for tampering with public records and up to 4 years for criminal association. However, Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and has not commented on the indictment. The police are also investigating his alleged involvement in a January 2023 uprising in the capital and whether he tried to sneak valuable jewelry into Brazil.
Despite the legal troubles, Bolsonaro still maintains strong support among his political base. However, Brazil’s top electoral court has ruled Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office until 2030 due to his actions during the 2022 campaign. Furthermore, the indictment sheds new light on previous criminal charges recommended against Bolsonaro for mismanaging the pandemic, including his dismissal of vaccines and flouting of health restrictions.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers have denied that he ordered or knew about the production of false vaccination certificates. The police is currently awaiting information from the U.S. Justice Department to determine whether the false certificates were used during Bolsonaro’s stay in American territory. The former president reportedly traveled to South Florida with a fresh vaccination certificate after the indictment. The situation continues to unfold as Brazil grapples with the implications of the allegations against its former leader.
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