Published: 21:16, March 19, 2024 | Updated: 21:29, March 19, 2024
Brazil's Bolsonaro 'indicted for suspected fraud on jab records'
By Reuters

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press as he leaves the Federal Police headquarters where he gave testimony about his actions related to the Jan 8 attacks on government buildings in the capital, in Brasilia, Brazil, Oct 18, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

Brazil's federal police indicted the country's former president Jair Bolsonaro for suspected fraud on his vaccination records, two sources related to the matter said on Tuesday.

An investigation by the country's comptroller general's office had already shown that Bolsonaro's vaccination records were false.

In addition to Bolsonaro, one of his former aides, Mauro Cid, who was arrested in May last year as part of the investigation, was also indicted

In addition to Bolsonaro, one of his former aides, Mauro Cid, who was arrested in May last year as part of the investigation, was also indicted.

READ MORE: Brazil's Bolsonaro gathers supporters amid coup probe

According to the sources, Bolsonaro was indicted on charges of entering false data into the country's Unified Health System (SUS) and forming a criminal organization.

Contacted by Reuters, the former president reiterated that he had not taken the COVID-19 vaccine and said he was calm.

"It's a selective investigation. I'm calm, I don't owe anything," said Bolsonaro. "The world knows that I didn't take the vaccine."

ALSO READ: Ex-military heads 'testify' over Bolsonaro's alleged coup plot

During his tenure, Bolsonaro repeatedly downplayed the importance of immunization and social distancing measures during the pandemic, which killed more than 700,000 people in Brazil.