- Israel widens Lebanon strikes as troops fight Hezbollah along border
- Bowlers' graveyards: Pakistan's placid pitches under fresh fire
- 'Little Gregory' murder haunts France 40 years on
- Vietnam, China to expand rail links, cross-border payments
- Americans get their belief back as Pochettino makes his mark
- Vietnam, China to boost economic, defence cooperation
- Winning start for Pochettino's American adventure
- Tariffs, tax cuts, energy: What is in Trump's economic plan?
- Amazon wants to be everything to everyone
- US firms brace for more tariffs as election approaches
- Winning start for Poch's American adventure
- Morocco's tribeswomen see facial tattoo tradition fade
- Centre-left set to win as pro-Ukraine Lithuania votes
- Colombia guerilla group urges delegations not to attend COP16 in Cali
- Pakistan frets over security ahead of SCO summit
- Ronaldo scores 133rd Portugal goal in Nations League win over Poland
- 40 nations contributing to UN Lebanon peacekeeping force condemn 'attacks'
- Eight dead as heavy rain thrashes Brazil after long drought
- Jewish school in Canada hit by gunfire for second time
- Morocco crush Central African Republic, Guirassy scores hat-trick
- Dupont scores quickfire hat-trick on Toulouse Top 14 return
- Ronaldo scores in Portugal's Nations League win as Spain sink Denmark
- Interim boss Carsley has not applied for England job
- Mets hurler Senga ready to take on Dodgers in game one of NL Championship Series
- Ronaldo on target again as Portugal defeat Poland in Nations League
- Guardians rip Tigers 7-3 to advance in MLB playoffs
- AFP, BBC win top French war reporting awards
- Carsley goes back to basics as humbled England face Finland
- Alex Salmond: the man who took Scotland to the brink of independence
- Scotland's former leader Alex Salmond dies aged 69: party
- UN warns of catastrophe as Israel fights a two-front war
- Croatia extend Scotland's losing streak
- South Africa, New Zealand boost T20 World Cup semi-final hopes
- 'Very challenging': Israel faces Hezbollah in tricky terrain
- Farrell begins to feel at home as Racing 92 beat Toulon
- South Africa boost T20 World Cup semi-final hopes with Bangladesh win
- Samson ton powers India to T20 series sweep after record total
- Djokovic to face Sinner in Shanghai final with 100th title in sight
- UN peacekeepers to remain in Lebanon: spokesman
- Pro-Conquest film fuels debate in Mexico over colonial legacy
- Samson ton powers India to record 297-6 in Bangladesh T20
- New Zealand enjoy perfect start to America's Cup defence over Britain
- Pogacar emulates icon Coppi with fourth straight Il Lombardia triumph
- UN warns against 'catastrophic' regional conflict
- New Zealand crush Ineos Britannia in America's Cup opener
- Djokovic to face Sinner in blockbuster Shanghai Masters final
- With medical report Harris seeks to play health card against Trump
- Sri Lanka seeks to match success in W.Indies T20s
- Sinner reaches Shanghai final, will end year number one
- China-EU EV tariff talks in Brussels end with 'major differences': Beijing
Bolsonaro declines to answer police questions in jewel scandal
Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro and his wife opted to remain silent Thursday as they faced questioning by federal police over allegations of trying to embezzle pricey jewelry and other official gifts from foreign countries.
It was the fifth time the embattled far-right ex-army captain faced police interrogation since his term ended on December 31, and the second time in this case, which involves accusations he conspired with aides to illegally sell off diamond jewelry from Swiss luxury house Chopard, a Rolex and other official gifts.
Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro "have opted to exercise their right to remain silent regarding the matters under investigation," the pair said in documents presented to investigators when the couple reported for questioning at federal police headquarters, according to Brazilian media reports.
Lawyers for the two argued federal police did not have jurisdiction in the case, and said the Bolsonaros would remain silent "until appearing before the appropriate judge."
The former first couple deny wrongdoing.
Besides the Bolsonaros, six former aides and alleged accomplices had been summoned to face questioning in separate, simultaneous interrogations.
Police are investigating allegations the group executed a conspiracy for the "illicit enrichment" of Bolsonaro.
The case could land the 68-year-old former president (2019-2022) in prison if he is convicted.
The case triggered a scandal in March, when newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo reported that customs officials had seized a set of diamond jewels -- a present from Saudi Arabia -- from a government aide who tried to bring them into Brazil undeclared in his backpack after a trip to the Middle East in 2021.
Brazilian law bars government officials from keeping expensive gifts.
It later emerged that Bolsonaro allies had sold or attempted to sell several pricey gifts in the United States.
Bolsonaro's lawyer, Frederick Wassef, reportedly sold one diamond-encrusted Rolex watch at a jewelry store in the US state of Pennsylvania, then repurchased it after the transaction came in for scrutiny.
- Bank records investigated -
Wassef denied wrongdoing as he reported to answer to questions from federal police in Sao Paulo.
"I'm the victim of a cowardly disinformation campaign," he told journalists.
"I never committed any irregularity or illicit act."
Bolsonaro had already faced questioning by police over the case in April. He denied wrongdoing on that occasion.
Michelle Bolsonaro has also denied the accusations.
"They're talking so much about jewels, I'll have to launch my own jewelry line," quipped the former first lady, who has been touted as a potential presidential contender herself.
The new interrogation comes two weeks after a Supreme Court judge authorized investigators to examine the Bolsonaros' bank records.
Bolsonaro, a polarizing figure nicknamed the "Tropical Trump," has had multiple legal woes since losing his re-election bid to veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a divisive election last year.
Police have also questioned him over allegedly fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates for himself and his inner circle, a suspected coup plot, and his alleged role in riots by supporters who invaded the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court on January 8.
In June, Bolsonaro was also barred from running for public office for eight years by electoral authorities over his public attacks on the credibility of the election system.
Y.Nakamura--AMWN