Sawt Falasteen - Brazil president candidate Flavio Bolsonaro targeted in corruption probe

Bolsonaro, the son of far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro, is vying for the presidency against leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in October elections.

According to a newly released court document, police have been investigating Flavio Bolsonaro since July.

A Supreme Court justice authorized the investigation into Bolsonaro regarding possible crimes "in the context of financing the production" of a forthcoming film about his father, according to the court document.

Brazilian police conducted dozens of raids Thursday into the alleged embezzlement of public funds by the company that produced the flattering biopic on Jair Bolsonaro.

"Dark Horse" -- starring American actor Jim Caviezel as Bolsonaro -- has been under scrutiny as part of a widening corruption scandal that has loomed over the election.

Voters in Latin America's largest economy head to the polls on October 4 deeply polarized and with a weary sense of deja vu as Lula takes on Bolsonaro.

The 45-year-old senator Flavio Bolsonaro was thrust into the electoral race after his father was jailed for attempting a coup after losing to Lula in the 2022 election.

He has styled himself as a "more moderate" version of his firebrand father.

- Neck and neck -

Flavio has vowed to "rescue" Brazil from corruption, crime, high food prices and soaring public debt. His speeches are woven through with references to "God, country, family and freedom."

He has also pledged to be tough on crime, which polls show is voters' main concern.

While Lula has promised to prioritize the fight against organized crime, Flavio blamed the incumbent for not taking violence seriously enough.

Flavio Bolsonaro is attempting to prevent Lula from winning a fourth term in office.

Bolsonaro's campaign has been hit by disclosures that he approached notorious fraud-accused banker Daniel Vorcaro -- head of the collapsed private bank Banco Master -- for money, which Bolsonaro said was to finance "Dark Horse."

A police source told AFP that the targets of Thursday's raids included Karina Gama, head of the company that produced "Dark Horse," and Mario Frias, a pro-Bolsonaro congressman listed as the film's executive producer.

The pair have been banned from leaving Brazil pending the outcome of the investigation.

Frias has said he was not guilty and denounced the investigation as a "smoke screen."

Police officials said the money came from parliamentary funds available to lawmakers to finance special projects, usually in their electoral strongholds.

Flavio Bolsonaro has blasted the probe as "attempted political interference" in the campaign over what he called his polling lead on Lula.

The pair are neck-and-neck in voting intentions ahead of the first round of voting on October 4.

If, as expected, no one wins an outright majority, a runoff round will be held on October 25.

H.Nasr--SF-PST