September, Thursday 19, 2024

Son of Former Brazilian President Embroiled in Espionage Investigation: Carlos Bolsonaro


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A police operation has taken place in Brazil targeting properties connected to Carlos Bolsonaro, one of the sons of former President Jair Bolsonaro. This action is part of an investigation into claims that the Brazilian intelligence service conducted illegal surveillance on political opponents during Bolsonaro's time as president. Carlos Bolsonaro is known for his aggressive attacks against his father's critics on social media and has been accused of spreading fake news, although he denies these allegations. Neither Carlos Bolsonaro nor his father have commented on the recent raid. The scandal initially emerged when Brazil's Supreme Court revealed documents accusing the country's intelligence agency, Abin, of spying on key political and judicial figures critical of the former president. The illegal eavesdropping allegedly targeted three Supreme Court justices and a speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress. On Thursday, the police searched the home and offices of Alexandre Ramagem, the former head of Abin and a close ally of Jair Bolsonaro. However, the investigation took a significant turn on Monday when officers arrived at a beach house where Jair Bolsonaro was staying with his sons. It is reported that Jair Bolsonaro was on a fishing trip with his sons when the police arrived. This new investigation further adds to the legal issues faced by Jair Bolsonaro, who has been barred from running for office for eight years due to his baseless doubts about Brazil's electronic voting system. The current probe is examining whether Abin was unlawfully employed during Bolsonaro's presidency to gather information on individuals critical of the president. Carlos Bolsonaro, who often acted as an unofficial spokesperson for his father during his presidency, is suspected by the police of illegally using information obtained by Abin. Last week, the police stated that their investigation suggested the existence of a "criminal group" that created a "parallel structure" within Abin, exploiting its tools and services for illicit activities, including producing information for political and media purposes, personal gain, and interference in federal police investigations. Bolsonaro's presidency saw Brazil become increasingly divided, with supporters and opponents accusing each other of employing unethical methods. Following his narrow defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 election, the former president has come under investigation for several alleged wrongdoings, such as corruption and abuse of power.