A Supreme Court judge in Brazil late on Friday opened a criminal investigation into President Jair Bolsonaro’s response to allegations of ...
A Supreme Court judge in Brazil late on Friday opened a criminal investigation into President Jair Bolsonaro’s response to allegations of potential corruption in a health ministry contract to buy 20 million (2 crore) doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by India’s Bharat Biotech, AP reported.
The comparatively high prices for Covaxin, despite failing to obtain regulatory clearance, drew prosecutors’ attention to the deal signed in February. To buy the vaccines, the Brazilian health ministry will have to pay $320 million (Rs 2,375 crore approximately) to Precisa Medicamentos, Bharat Biotech’s intermediary in Brazil. Thus, each dose of Covaxin will cost $15 (approximately Rs 1,100).
This was significantly higher than what the health ministry paid for American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer’s vaccine, which had obtained regulatory approval. Last year, Bolsonaro had also ignored Pfizer’s offer to supply vaccines and repeatedly raised doubts about its efficacy, reports said.
As allegations of irregularities surfaced, the government on June 29 suspended the contract.
On Friday, Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber gave the authorities 90 days to collect evidence in the case, Reuters reported. Authorities will investigate whether Bolsonaro committed the crime of “prevarication” – delaying or refraining from action required as part of a public official’s duty for reasons of personal interest. Weber did not dismiss the possibility of prosecutors looking...
