Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber ordered an investigation into Jair Bolsonaro (no party) to determine if the president had committed a crime of malfeasance by ignoring allegations of irregularities regarding negotiations for the purchase of the Covaxin vaccine.
The justice responded to a request from the Attorney General's Office to investigate the case. Initially, the Attorney General's Office wanted to wait for the end of Senate pandemic investigation to decide on opening an inquiry.
Suspicion about purchase of the vaccine peaked when Folha reported the testimony given to the Federal Public Ministry by Luis Ricardo Miranda, a member of the Ministry of Health. He had reported an unusual pressure to approve the importation of the product.
With the opening of the inquiry, Bolsonaro will be officially investigated before the court. The Federal Police was also authorized to take his testimony.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon