Police have searched the home of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro in an investigation into alleged falsification of COVID-19 vaccination cards.
Local media reported that the cards of Bolsonaro and his family members, as well as his advisors, had been altered.
During the coronavirus outbreak, was the former far-right leader of the country. He skeptically questioned the effectiveness of the vaccine and refused to be inoculated.
In February of this year, health records revealed that he had been registered as having received vaccinations.
An official of the federal police confirmed that Mr Bolsonaro would be questioned, and also said one of his closest ally, Mauro CID, had been arrested.
According to the Federal Police press office, officers conducted 16 searches in Rio de Janeiro and arrested six individuals. The statement didn’t mention Mr Bolsonaro, or Mr Cid.
Subscribe to Sky News Daily podcasts
Mr Bolsonaro confirmed that a raid was conducted at his Brasilia residence and he reiterated to journalists that he never received the COVID vaccination. He denied that he played any part in the alleged forging of documents.
“I’m not a falsifier.” I did not take the vaccination. “Period,” he added, adding that his phone had been seized.
Officers stated that they were investigating “false” data which was allegedly added between November 2021 to December 2022 when he served as president.
According to a police statement, the fake data inserted into the vaccine cards allowed those who altered their vaccine cards to meet the US vaccination requirement to enter the US.
Bolsonaro, who lost to Lula Da Silva at the October presidential elections and left office at the end last year, recently returned to Brazil after spending several months in the US where he kept a low-profile apart from a few speaking engagements.
He also faces several other investigations, including his alleged involvement in encouraging protests which ended with his followers storming government buildings.
Click here to read more
Bolsonaro returns to Brazil from US
Bolsonaro is investigated for riots that broke out at Brazilian government buildings
Brazil is facing the fact that democracy can be fragile
M. Bolsonaro, as president, insisted that the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine is a treatment for COVID despite the lack of solid medical evidence.
The number of deaths in Brazil during the pandemic is the second highest worldwide.
He should be charged for his role in bungling COVID’s response to the United States, which included pushing treatments that were not proven.