Flávio Bolsonaro investigated for money laundering and corruption linked to Dark Horse film
Brazil's Federal Police are investigating Flávio Bolsonaro on suspicion of money laundering, currency evasion and corruption in the financing of the Dark Horse film.
Brazilian presidential candidate under federal investigation for financial crimes
Flávio Bolsonaro, candidate in Brazil's presidential election on 4 October, is the subject of an investigation by the Federal Police (PF) on suspicion of money laundering, currency evasion, corruption and other crimes, according to reporting by dn.pt. The inquiry centres on the financing of the production of the film Dark Horse, a documentary about the political trajectory of former president Jair Bolsonaro, the candidate's father.
The investigation was authorised in July by judge André Mendonça of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) following a request by the PF. Information that Flávio Bolsonaro features on the list of those under investigation only became public on Friday, 11 September, after the case rapporteur lifted the confidentiality order at the request of Edson Fachin, president of the STF.
The film's financing is being examined in two separate inquiries. The first, under the conduct of André Mendonça, investigates transfers made by banker Daniel Vorcaro — former owner of the defunct Banco Master and detained since March — namely the circumstances in which they were made, the origin of the funds, the exact amount and the final destination of the money. Investigators suspect that part of the resources was not applied to film production, but rather served to finance expenses of Eduardo Bolsonaro, former deputy and brother of Flávio, in the United States.
The second inquiry, conducted by minister Flávio Dino, investigates whether the film's production company, Go Up Entertainment, used parliamentary amendments — public funds at the disposal of congressmen — to cover production costs. As part of this line of investigation, the PF conducted searches on Thursday, 10 September, targeting Mário Frias, deputy and former Culture Secretary of the Bolsonaro government, among other targets.
The case gained media prominence after the website The Intercept Brasil disclosed conversations between Flávio Bolsonaro and Vorcaro, in which the candidate requests financing for the film's production. Vorcaro reportedly paid approximately ten million euros to the producers through a fund in the United States, in a total of more than 20 million euros requested by Lula da Silva's rival in the upcoming election.
Source: Google News PT