Brazil investigators get access to banking records of president’s son in graft probe

Wednesday, 15 May 2019 01:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters): A Brazilian court will allow investigators to examine the banking records of President Jair Bolsonaro’s senator son and his former driver in a money-laundering investigation, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Monday.

Flavio Bolsonaro, son of Brazil’s President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, is seen behind him at the transition government building in Brasilia, Brazil 27 November 2018 – Reuters

The office of Senator Flavio Bolsonaro confirmed that a court in a sealed ruling would allow police to examine the banking records of the lawmaker, along with those of his wife.

The court order opening Flavio Bolsonaro’s banking records increases the spotlight on multiple corruption allegations that are sullying the law-and-order image his father rode to an easy presidential election last year.

Federal investigators said in February they had opened the money-laundering investigation in connection to unexplained increases in Flavio Bolsonaro’s net worth, and his purchase of at least two luxury apartments in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil’s Supreme Court in February rejected his appeal to halt the probe that also includes an examination of numerous cash payments made to the account of his former driver.

The driver, Fabricio Queiroz, is a former policeman who investigators have said has strong links to Rio de Janeiro’s deadly paramilitary militias.