Ex-Brazil Prez Bolsonaro indicted for alleged money laundering

Sao Paulo: Brazil's Federal Police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association in connection with undeclared diamonds the far-right leader received from Saudi Arabia during his time in office, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations.

A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

Brazil's Supreme Court has yet to receive the police report with the indictment. Once it does, the country's prosecutor-general, Paulo Gonet, will analyze the document and decide whether to file charges and force Bolsonaro to stand trial. This is Bolsonaro's second indictment since leaving office, following another in May for allegedly falsifying his Covid-19 vaccination certificate. But this indictment dramatically raises the legal threats facing the ex-leader that are applauded by his opponents but denounced as political persecution by his supporters.