Homes Of One Of Bolsonaro’s Sons Are Searched For a Money Laundering Plot

The Brazilian Police carried out searches this Thursday at homes linked to Jair Renan Valle Bolsonaro, the youngest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in the framework of an investigation into a money laundering plot, official sources reported, cited by local media.

The searches are part of a police operation that seeks to "repress the practice" of alleged "crimes against public faith and illicit association, in addition to crimes committed to the detriment of the treasury," said the Brasilia Civil Police in a note.

Among the targets of the action are two apartments associated with Bolsonaro's youngest son: one in the Brazilian capital and another in the city of Balneário Camboriú, in the state of Santa Catarina, in the south of the country, according to the Globo group.

Since last March, Jair Renan has been working as an "auxiliary" in the cabinet of a senator who is an ally of his father, Jorge Seif, who was Secretary of Fisheries during the government of the far-right leader (2019-2022) and last year was elected to occupy a seat in the Upper House for Santa Catarina.

In 2021, Jair Renan was already investigated for alleged influence peddling and money laundering on suspicion that he acted in favor of a business group when his father was in power, but the case was filed last year due to lack of evidence. 

In the operation this Thursday, the agents are also trying to arrest two suspects within that network investigated for fraud, document falsification, tax evasion and money laundering, and that would act through shell companies.

Bolsonaro's youngest son is not among the targets for his search and capture.

The operation occurs at a time when the former Brazilian president is hospitalized in São Paulo for a battery of tests.

The far-right leader also faces problems with the Brazilian Justice as he is being investigated in various cases, including the coup riot on January 8, when thousands of his supporters violently invaded the headquarters of the three powers to force the overthrow of the current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

On another judicial front, the former president was disqualified for eight years by the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), on June 30, for spreading hoaxes and seriously attacking the electoral system and democratic institutions.