Bolsonaro Under Investigation for 'Harassing' Whale
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is under investigation for having allegedly "harassed" a humpback whale while riding his jetski off Sao Paulo's coast last year.
Bolsonaro and his lawyer met with officers of the federal police in Sao Paulo on February 27.
The investigation is just one of the many legal headaches the former far-right leader is facing. Since leaving office a year ago, Bolsonaro has been banned from running for office until 2030, investigated for plotting a coup to remove his successor from power and has had his passport seized.
In a June 2023 video widely seen on social media, a man is seen riding a jetski close to a whale, and seems to be recording the encounter with a mobile phone. Federal prosecutors, who are also investigating the case, said the man appeared to be Bolsonaro.
According to Brazilian law, motored vessels must keep a minimum distance of 100 meters from whales and other cetaceans. Attempting to get closer can lead to a sentence of up to two to five years in prison and a fine.
The man on the jetski seemed to be about 15 meters from the animal, prosecutors said last year.
For Bolsonaro's supporters, the case is yet another example of their former leader being politically persecuted — an argument he has often made since leaving office.
Last week, officers in the capital, Brasilia, questioned Bolsonaro for allegedly plotting a coup, in an attempt to remove his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, from power. Bolsonaro chose to remain silent.
Bolsonaro was also ruled ineligible to run for office until 2030 by judges, who said that he had abused his power and cast baseless doubts on the country's electronic voting system.
However, legal experts say that if police can prove that Bolsonaro intentionally approached the whale, he risks a fine at most. According to online news site G1, a local politician found guilty on similar charges and in the same location was fined just over $500.
