Corinthians board sets deadline for hearing on Andrés Sanchez case | OneFootball

By Tiago Salazar

The Ethics Committee of Corinthians issued a statement regarding the Andrés Sanchez case this Thursday. The body, chaired by Leonardo Pantaleão, detailed all expenses on the former president’s corporate card and scheduled a hearing within ten days.

The committee gained access to the invoices last Wednesday, listed all suspicious expenses that require explanations, and, less than 24 hours later, dispatched the statement. Additionally, the body took advantage of a hearing with Andrés before the Justice Committee, with the agreement of the former president’s lawyers. The testimony has already been added to the case files.

This, however, does not eliminate the need for a hearing. The regulations stipulate a 45-day deadline, but, as Gazeta Esportiva has learned, Pantaleão requested that the hearing be scheduled within a maximum of ten days to speed up the process.

The hearing will be held via videoconference, taking into account the restrictive measures applied to Andrés, who is currently banned from entering Parque São Jorge. The former president’s attendance is optional. Should he decide not to participate, the Ethics Committee will still consider the testimony already given as valid.

Andrés Sanchez must provide documented clarification for the expenses indicated on the invoices and prove that such expenses were related to his role as president of Corinthians. After the hearing, there will be a five-day period for the former executive to present his final defense.

(Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

At the end of the entire process, the Corinthians Ethics Committee will review and, if deemed necessary, recommend possible punishments for Andrés. According to the report, there is a possibility that the body may suggest the expulsion of the former president.

Next, Romeu Tuma Júnior, president of the Deliberative Council, will put the matter to a vote in the CD plenary. If approved, Andrés may be penalized and permanently expelled, should that be the Committee’s recommendation.

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Understand the case

As revealed by Gazeta Esportiva, the Corinthians Justice Committee identified a series of expenses considered suspicious during Andrés Sanchez’s last term (2018-2020) that allegedly had no relation to the commitments of a president.

The body initially listed 50 expenses, identifying locations and amounts that together total R$ 190,523.54. Among the main charges separated and reviewed by the Justice Committee are expenses at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, furniture and electronics stores, as well as costs with an air taxi company and automotive centers.

The members of the Corinthians Justice Committee believe there is no evidence that these purchases were made for club use or were necessary for the president. The expenses have no supporting documentation attached.

Complaints from the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP-SP)

Andrés Sanchez was also charged twice by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP-SP). The first charge of aggravated continued embezzlement, money laundering, and falsification of tax documents was partially rejected by Judge Marcia Mayumi Okoda Oshira of the 2nd Court for Tax Crimes, Criminal Organization, and Asset and Value Laundering in the Capital.

However, the MP-SP, through prosecutor Cássio Roberto Conserino, appealed the decision. In light of this, the judge ordered the suspension of the decision favorable to the former Timão president and referred the case to the São Paulo Court of Justice. The case is currently suspended until the TJ-SP decides whether or not the judge will continue to handle the judicial proceedings.

Subsequently, Andrés was charged with money laundering and tax crimes. The body also demanded new financial compensation for the club from Parque São Jorge. The new MP-SP complaint concerns alleged personal expenses by the former president on the Corinthians corporate card between August and September 2020, his final year in office. Now, it is up to a judge to accept or reject the complaint.

This week, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested that the court order the use of an electronic ankle monitor for Andrés Sanchez.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.