Brazil’s Supreme Court agrees to investigate Bolsonaro’s vaccine deal Reuters

São Paulo (Reuters)-Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber authorized the Office of the Supreme Prosecutor (PGR) to investigate President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday evening on the grounds that he was purchasing India Dereliction of duty in the process of COVID-19 vaccine. A copy of the decision seen by Reuters.

The President was accused of violations involving a 1.6 billion reais ($316 million) contract that was related to 20 million doses of vaccine signed in February by a Brazilian intermediary for vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech.

A committee of the Brazilian Senate investigating the government’s response to the pandemic cited suspicions of overpricing and corruption related to contracts. After allegations of violations surfaced, the government suspended the contract.

Brazil has the second largest number of COVID-19 deaths in the world.

The Brazilian Federal Attorney and the Comptroller General’s Office (CGU) are also separately investigating suspected violations in the transaction. According to lawmakers, the case allegedly involved Ricardo Barros, the chief whip of the government in the House of Commons.

Bolsonaro and Barros denied any wrongdoing.

PGR’s investigation of the President must be duly authorized by the Supreme Court. In her decision, Judge Weber gave the authorities 90 days to collect evidence related to the case.