The minister asked for a statement from the body on the ‘fortuitous events’ identified by the PF on the lawyer’s cell phone
The minister Alexandre de Moraesof the Federal Supreme Court (STF), determined this Wednesday (18), that the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) expresses its opinion on material extracted from lawyer Frederick Wassef’s cell phones. The devices were seized as part of the investigation into the embezzlement of jewelry and official gifts received by former president Jair Bolsonaro on international trips.
The decision was taken in the records of Petition 11,645, after the Federal Police (PF) report, on March 4, that they identified “fortuitous events” in Wassef’s cell phone data which must be determined in a separate procedure. On the same day, the PGR asked for the case to be closedarguing that it is not possible to criminally punish the receipt of gifts by presidents, as there is no clear law defining whether these items belong to the ruler or the State.
The PGR, however, did not comment on the material relating to Wassef sent by the PF. Moraes then returned the files to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to take a position on the seized data.
PF had made indictments
The PF investigation concluded with the indictment of 12 people. They are: Bolsonaro, the former aide-de-camp Mauro Cid, Cid’s father, Mauro César Lourena Cid, the former advisor Marcelo Costa Câmara, the lawyer Frederick Wassef, the former secretary of the Federal Revenue Julio Cesar Vieira Gomes, the former minister of Mines and Energy Bento Albuquerque, the former head of communications Fabio Wajngarten, Osmar Crivelatti, Marcelo da Silva Vieira, José Roberto Bueno Junior and Marcos André dos Santos Soeiro.
As published by Estadão, Bolsonaro and Cid were indicted for crimes against public administrationthe so-called embezzlement (article 312 of the Penal Code), for the appropriation of golden sculptures of a boat and a palm tree, presented by authorities from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain during an official visit in November 2021.
Both were also indicted for money laundering “with the aim of promoting the illicit enrichment of the then President of the Republic”, related to these assets, alongside Marcelo Câmara and Lourena Cid.
The PF also points out the diversion of three sets of jewelry. The so-called “rose gold kit”, from the Chopard brand, received in Saudi Arabia in October 2021, for which they were Bolsonaro, Cid, Marcelo da Silva Vieira, José Roberto Bueno Junior and Bento Albuquerque indicted.
The “white gold kit”, consisting of a ring, cufflinks, Islamic rosary and Rolex watch, given to Bolsonaro on an official trip to Saudi Arabia in October 2019. And a Patek Philippe Calatrava watch, a gift received in Bahrain in November 2021.
Bolsonaro, Cid, Marcelo da Silva Vieira, Marcos André dos Santos Soeiro, Bento Albuquerque and Julio Cesar Vieira Gomes were also indicted for attempted embezzlementfor the frustrated diversion of a set of women’s white gold jewelry (necklace, earrings, ring and Chopard watch) and a golden horse sculpture, gifts from Saudi Arabia delivered to Bento Albuquerque in October 2021.
Vieira Gomes was also indicted for administrative advocacy before the Federal Revenue Service (article 3, III, of Law 8,137/90), for having acted in favor of Bolsonaro to incorporate the diverted assets into the former president’s personal assets.
All 12 investigated were indicted for criminal association (article 288 of the Penal Code), for having acted between October 2019 and December 2022 with the aim of diverting official gifts and promoting the illicit enrichment of the then president.
The secrecy of the case had been lifted by Moraes in July 2024, after the PF presented the final investigation report.
