Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaroxa0indicted for allegedly falsifying Covid vaccination data

Brazil’s former leader has been indicted by the country’s federal police on suspicion of fraud over allegations that he falsified Covid-19 vaccination data while he was still president. Police say the leader allegedly ordered one of his closest aids to enter false vaccination data into the Ministry of Health’s system for himself and his daughter. The leader’s closest aide and 15 others were also indicted for allegedly participating in the same scheme. The leader’s lawyer called the indictment ‘absurd.’ Last May, Brazilian Police carried out a search and seizure in the leader’s home in connection with the suspected falsified vaccination data. The leader was widely criticized for downplaying the severity of the virus during the pandemic. The indictment comes as the leader faces mounting legal challenges, including an investigation into an alleged attempted coup plot to keep him in power after he lost the presidential election. Last year, the leader was barred from running for political office until 2030 by the country’s highest electoral court for abusing his power and misusing public media during the election campaign.