This Monday, the Brazilian Federal Police searched the house and personal office of Rio de Janeiro councilor
Carlos Bolsonaro
, one of the sons of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The raid is part of an investigation into
illegal espionage
during his father's term (2019-2022), according to media reports in that country.
The action is a continuation of the operation deployed last Thursday to dismantle an alleged plot in which members of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) and federal police
irregularly spied
on Bolsonaro's political adversaries to favor family interests.
The investigators thus seek to "
advance the political core
" of this alleged illicit organization, "identifying the main recipients and beneficiaries of the information illegally produced by Abin through clandestine actions," as reported.
In images broadcast by the country's main television stations, Federal Police vehicles were
in front of
Carlos Bolsonaro's house in Rio, as well as in the personal office located inside the Municipal Chamber of the Fluminense capital.
Brazilian authorities suspect that the Rio ministry official was one of the recipients of the
information illegally obtained
by Abin, according to the report published by the newspaper
O Globo
.
A newspaper complaint that broke out in March of last year.
The case that is being followed by the Supreme Court also targets federal deputy
Alexandre Ramagem
, an important ally and co-religionist of Bolsonaro who was head of Abin during the far-right leader's administration.
Carlos Bolsonaro is being investigated for "illegal espionage."
Photo: AFP
Investigators have indications of the existence of "a
criminal organization
that acted within the Intelligence Agency with the intention of illegally spying on people and authorities through the invasion of computers and mobile phones without judicial authorization."
The plot, according to the Brazilian Justice, attempted to "benefit" Renan Bolsonaro, youngest son of the former head of state and
investigated in a case of influence peddling
due to suspicions that he favored a business group when his father was in power. .
The highest judicial instance also pointed out in an official note to Senator Flávio Bolsonaro for "the preparation of reports to help him in his defense" in the case in which he responded for the diversion of resources from the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro.
Jair Bolsonaro, in the company of three of his sons, Senator Flávio, Deputy Eduardo and Councilor Carlos, made a "live" on social media this Sunday in which, among other issues, he criticized the way the Federal Police acted. since he left power, in January 2023, when Lula da Silva succeeded him.
- Live with Jair Messias Bolsonaro.
Politics and leadership training: https://t.co/WhmMezLuzJ
.
Start - 19:00 (01/28/2024)
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) January 28, 2024
The former president also faces several legal cases against him;
among them the coup attempt on January 8 of last year, when thousands of his supporters invaded and destroyed the headquarters of the three powers to overthrow Lula.
With information from EFE
D.D.