Brazilian police said former President Bolsonaro received cash from the sale of two luxury watches, which he received as a gift while in office. They also carried out raids at the residences of his aides.
Brazilian federal police said on Friday that they were looking into the sale of two watches by former President Jair Bolsonaro, and people close to him, that he had received as a gift from Saudi Arabia while in office.
The sale of the luxury watches amounted to nearly $70,000 (€63,847) which was allegedly kept by the former president as cash, violating laws that prohibit officials from keeping expensive gifts.
A Federal Police officer told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity that they were trying to access the personal banking and financial information of Bolsonaro, and had sought help from the FBI.
Police had earlier carried out raids at the residences of Bolsonaro's lawyer Frederick Wassef, and the family of his aide Mauro Cid who is currently in prison.
The search operations were executed based on a warrant issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Police said they believed Bolsonaro's aides had used government resources for "illicit.