Corinthians’ internal process: president and vice explain cases | OneFootball

Romeu Tuma Júnior, president of the Deliberative Council of Corinthians, along with his vice president and president of the Ethics Committee, Leonardo Pantaleão, detailed the procedures of the internal investigation involving the possible misuse of the club's corporate cards during the management of the last three presidents, Augusto Melo, Duilio Monteiro Alves, and Andrés Sanchez, as well as invoices issued during Duilio's three-year term. The cases are also being investigated by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office.

Tuma explained that the analysis and investigation procedures are following the procedures outlined in the current Corinthians statute. The president of the CD revealed that, in total, nine requests were made, but they were combined into just one. The process is currently with the Justice Committee.

“Both [Duilio and Andrés Sanchez] were accused of improper use of the card. We had eight representations in this regard. Both submitted a request for this to be investigated. We have at least nine requests. Duilio made one, another by the members, all were combined into one. It was initiated and is with the Justice Committee,” Tuma revealed.

“Last week or the week before, an investigation plan was made and already approved. I have already ordered several diligences that were requested by the Justice Committee, official letters, document requests. I have already deliberated, charges have already been made, we are waiting. The [Justice] Committee has already scheduled hearings to hear important people. All of this is being investigated, and if it finds any infraction, everyone is subject to being held accountable. If the committee finds there are reasons, whoever it is, they will undergo due legal process,” he continued.

(Photo: Thais Bueno/Gazeta Esportiva)

Romeu also explained that the investigation of the cases of Andrés Sanchez and Duilio Monteiro Alves is already more 'advanced' compared to the situation involving Augusto Melo. The deposed president lost his political rights after being impeached on August 9 of this year.

“These two cases [Duilio and Andrés] already have a more advanced and expedited process compared to the case of Augusto Melo. I have already ordered Pantaleão to follow all this to facilitate. In this case, I brought in the president of Ethics to follow,” clarified the president of the CD.

Pantaleão, in turn, avoided giving a deadline and making any value judgment regarding the cases investigated of the last three presidents of Corinthians. The vice president of the CD assured that as soon as the proper investigations are received by the Ethics Committee, the correct measures will be taken.

“At Corinthians, ethics can no longer be just a discourse. It has to become practice. I cannot delve into an answer like this because I would be unethical and making some kind of pre-judgment. What I can say is that this procedure is not yet with the Ethics Committee, but with the Justice Committee. As soon as it reaches Ethics, the measures will be taken: it will be forwarded to my care, I will appoint a rapporteur within the committee, and all necessary diligences will be carried out, including, if necessary, a hearing. That's why he [Tuma] asked me to follow the process of this procedure. I just can't extend myself so as not to bias my participation in the judgment,” said the criminal lawyer.

Understand the case

The Criminal Investigation Procedure (PIC) was initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office in mid-June of this year. At the time, the agency also scheduled hearings with the current president, Osmar Stabile, vice president Armando Mendonça, and the president of the Deliberative Council, Romeu Tuma Júnior, to understand the functioning of Corinthians' corporate cards.

Initially, the investigation by the MP would cover only the periods of Andrés Sanchez's (2018 to 2020) and Duilio's (2021 to 2023) administrations. However, after hearing some testimonies, the agency decided to also investigate the term of Augusto Melo. In addition to alleged embezzlement, possible crimes of fraud, qualified theft, ideological falsehood, and criminal association are also being investigated.

The case came to light at the beginning of July when Andrés admitted to having improperly used the card to pay for personal expenses in Tibau do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte, at the end of his last term in 2020.

(Photo: Reproduction/YouTube)

Days after the revelation of the expenses, he reimbursed Corinthians with interest and monetary correction. The former president, however, will face a disciplinary process in the club's Ethics and Discipline Committee. Fans are demanding punishments and even the expulsion of Andrés.

There was also an accusation of alleged personal expenses during Duilio Monteiro Alves' administration. However, the expenses are not necessarily linked to the former president. He does not recognize the invoices and filed a crime report at the Sports Intolerance Crimes Repression Police Station (Drade/Dope), requesting its inclusion in the ongoing police investigation, which denounces the circulation of false and manipulated documents.

At the beginning of September, the MP asked the court for Andrés, Duilio, and Augusto Melo to be temporarily removed from the Corinthians Deliberative and Advisory Councils during the investigation. So far, however, there has been no manifestation from the Judiciary.

On this Monday, it is worth remembering, Corinthians delivered the documents requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the investigation of the three former presidents. The club was studying the best way to provide the documents to the MP-SP and made, on this Monday, the submission of the data in court, delivering them directly to the Judiciary, under a confidentiality request, and not to the prosecution. The MP-SP will thus have access granted by the judiciary.

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