Police accuse Brazil leader of falsely linking Aids, Covid-19 jab
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
BRASILIA • Brazil's federal police on Wednesday accused President Jair Bolsonaro of discouraging mask use during the pandemic and falsely suggesting that people who got vaccinated against Covid-19 ran the risk of contracting Aids.
In a document sent to Brazil's Supreme Court, a police delegate said Mr Bolsonaro's effort to discourage compliance with pandemic-linked health measures amounts to a crime, while his effort to link Aids with vaccination amounted to a misdemeanour.
The police asked Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is in charge of the probe, to authorise them to charge Mr Bolsonaro and others involved in the case.
In a social media live stream last October, the far-right President said, without presenting any evidence, that British government reports had shown people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 had developed Aids.
Mr Bolsonaro has declined to take the vaccine.
The police said additional steps are needed to conclude the investigations, including hearing from Mr Bolsonaro.
The Solicitor-General's office, which typically provides legal representation for the President, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
REUTERS
