Flávio Bolsonaro barred from leaving Brazil and ordered to surrender passports
The Brazilian senator was ordered by the Federal Police to hand over his passports, on the orders of the Supreme Court. Flávio Bolsonaro is the subject of two investigations into suspected financial crimes.
Passports seized and exit prohibition for Brazilian senator
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro was ordered on Monday by the Federal Police (PF) to surrender his passports, by determination of the Supreme Court (STF), and was simultaneously barred from leaving Brazil. The information was reported by CNN Portugal.
According to the senator himself, PF officers approached him on the street as he was heading to his father's residence, former President Jair Bolsonaro, in Brasília, where he is under house arrest. Flávio Bolsonaro disclosed the situation through a video published on social media.
The senator attributes the measure to statements made by his brother Eduardo Bolsonaro in an interview in the United States last Friday. In that interview, Eduardo Bolsonaro stated: "If my brother doesn't win, I'm in favour of him leaving the country. For sure." His brother also advocated for challenging electoral results in the event of defeat. Flávio Bolsonaro lost the presidential election to Lula da Silva on Sunday. The decision was signed by judge Alexandre de Moraes.
Two investigations under way at the Supreme Court
The senator faces two separate proceedings at the Supreme Court. The first investigates suspicions of money laundering through betting companies linked to lawyer Willer Tomaz, with whom he maintains a personal relationship. The Federal Police detected possible suspicious financial movements and references to the senator in a bank account of a company associated with Tomaz. On Friday, Alexandre de Moraes ordered the freezing of up to six billion reais in assets and funds linked to the same lawyer.
The second investigation, conducted by judge André Mendonça, focuses on the financing of the film "Dark Horse", a documentary about Jair Bolsonaro's political trajectory. The authorities are seeking to clarify the source of funds negotiated with former banker Daniel Vorcaro, the former owner of Banco Master.
Flávio Bolsonaro denies any irregularities. He maintains that his relationship with Willer Tomaz is exclusively personal in nature and that the resources mobilised for the film came from private sources.
Source: CNN Portugal