Brazil: arrest of a Bolsonaro son's former assistant

Former Flavio Bolsonaro driver and assistant, Fabricio Queiroz, upon his arrival at the Forensic Institute of Sao Paulo after his arrest on June 18, 2020. NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP

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The former assistant to Bolsonaro's son was arrested on Thursday, June 18, as part of an investigation into embezzlement that involves one of the sons of the Brazilian president, now a senator. An arrest which caused a scandal in the country and embarrasses Jair Bolsonaro, already very criticized for his management of the coronavirus pandemic.

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With our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro, François Cardona

Fabrizio Queiroz, 54, was the assistant and driver of Flavio Bolsonaro when the president's eldest son was a member of parliament for Rio. Within his cabinet, thanks to ghost employees, he would have diverted their salaries for more than 200,000 euros. At the time of his arrest, Fabrizio Queiroz was in a house belonging to the lawyer for the Bolsonaro family.

Faced with the scandal caused by his arrest, the president reacted in a speech broadcast on social networks. "  Let me be clear: I am not Queiroz's lawyer and I have nothing to do with this case, " said Jair Bolsonaro . But I want to remind you that Queiroz was not on the run. If he had been asked to go to court, he would have done so. And if he was in this region of Sao Paulo, it was to be closer to the hospital where he was followed for cancer treatment. Let justice do its job. For my part, the Queiroz affair is closed.  "

"  The truth will prevail!  "

The wife and two daughters of the former assistant to the elder son of the Brazilian president are involved. In December 2019, police raided premises belonging to Flavio Bolsonaro, his ex-employees and Jair Bolsonaro's second wife. Flavio Bolsonaro, who is suspected of laundering money through a chocolate shop and the purchase of apartments in cash, then denounced a "  political persecution  " intended to "  reach the president  ".

On Thursday, he said on Twitter that he "welcomes  today's events with serenity  ". "  The truth will prevail!  "He assured, again evoking a way"  to attack (the president) Bolsonaro  ". Jair Bolsonaro, herald of the anti-corruption campaign during his election campaign in 2018 is, like his relatives, under investigation .

►Also read: Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro and his sons, the clan of extremes

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  • Brazil
  • Jair Bolsonaro
  • Justice
  • Corruption

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