FORMER Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro could face charges of money-laundering in connection with undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia.

Announced on Thursday, the possible charges mark the far-right leader’s second formal accusation, with more potentially in store.

Two sources with knowledge of the case confirmed the potential charges filed by the Federal Police, which followed another formal accusation against Mr Bolsonaro in May for allegedly falsifying his Covid-19 vaccination certificate. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Supreme Court has yet to receive the police report with the latest charges. Once it does, Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet will decide whether to press charges and force Mr Bolsonaro to stand trial.

The indictment dramatically increases the divisive ex-leader’s legal troubles, which are applauded by his opponents but denounced as political persecution by his supporters.

Mr Bolsonaro did not immediately comment, but he and his lawyers have previously denied any wrongdoing in both cases and other investigations into his activities. 

One concerns his possible involvement in inciting an uprising in the capital Brasilia on January 8 2023 that sought to oust his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, from power.

Police said in August that Mr Bolsonaro had received cash from the nearly $70,000 (£55,000) sale of two luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia. 

Brazil requires its citizens arriving by plane from abroad to declare goods worth more than $1,000 (£786) and, for any amount above that exemption, to pay a tax equal to 50 per cent of their value.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the former president’s eldest son, claimed in a posting on X that his father was the victim of “blatant and shameless” persecution.

Last year, Brazil’s top electoral court ruled that Mr Bolsonaro had abused his powers during his 2022 re-election bid, making him ineligible to contest any elections until 2030.