Brazil’s Federal Police raided former President Jair Bolsonaro’s home in Brasilia on Wednesday as they carried out an investigation into false Covid-19 vaccination data entered into public health systems, according to a person involved in the probe.
(Bloomberg) — Brazil’s Federal Police raided former President Jair Bolsonaro’s home in Brasilia on Wednesday as they carried out an investigation into false Covid-19 vaccination data entered into public health systems, according to a person involved in the probe.
People who had not received the vaccine were registered as immunized in order to obtain necessary certifications to enter other countries, according to the person. Bolsonaro’s vaccination data was among the records police believe was forged and he is expected to testify to federal police, the person said, requesting anonymity because he is not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation.
During his presidency, Bolsonaro said he would not take the Covid-19 vaccine. Bolsonaro on Wednesday denied tampering with vaccine data.
Police seized the mobile phones of Bolsonaro and his wife, according to the person. Six people were arrested Wednesday morning, the person said, including two of the former president’s aides: Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid Barbosa, who acted as Bolsonaro’s personal secretary, and Max Guilherme Machado de Moura, his personal security guard and friend.
The investigation is the latest to hit the former president, who spent three months in self-imposed exile in the US after losing last October’s election to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Read More: Bolsonaro Tells Police He Moved Beyond Election Before Riots
Bolsonaro is also facing probes into his potential links to Jan. 8 riots in Brasilia and $3 million in jewelry allegedly gifted to him by the government of Saudi Arabia.
(Updates with additional details and Bolsonaro comment)
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