Prosecutors seize documents at Corinthians HQ in ex-presidents probe | OneFootball

The public prosecutor Cássio Conserino visited Parque São Jorge on Thursday afternoon (12) to access documents that may assist in investigations conducted by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office (MP-SP) regarding possible irregular expenditures during the administrations of former presidents Andrés Sanchez and Duilio Monteiro Alves.

The purpose of the operation was to gather invoices, credit card bills, spreadsheets, and other accounting records related to expenses incurred during the two terms. The prosecutor arrived at the club accompanied by Military Police vehicles and other authorities, and was received by president Osmar Stabile and the Legal Business Director Pedro Luis Soares.

The visit lasted about four hours and included an inspection of the club's archive department. Among the cases analyzed by the Public Prosecutor's Office are the transfer of approximately R$ 3.4 million in cash to a former head of security of the club and the payment of about R$ 1.2 million to a former driver linked to Duilio's administration. In both situations, according to the investigation, there is no documentation considered sufficient to prove the regularity of the financial transactions.

The Central do Timão team followed the movement at Parque São Jorge and spoke with the prosecutor and the club's legal director after the operation.

Meeting considered productive

Commenting on the meeting, Cássio Conserino assessed that the meeting was positive and allowed progress in organizing the necessary evidence for the investigation.

“Very productive, we managed to outline a line of reasoning to externalize the necessary evidence to demonstrate the materiality of the offense. We agreed to send the documentation concerning the spreadsheets that suggested cash advances,” he said.

The prosecutor stated that the club committed to providing banking and fiscal data to confirm cash withdrawals indicated in the spreadsheets already analyzed.

“Corinthians committed to opening fiscal and banking secrecy and delivering to the Public Prosecutor's Office the documentation that reveals the cash withdrawal in accordance with the spreadsheet that has already been externalized in the investigation, which denotes, during the term of former president Andrés Sanchez, the withdrawal of R$ 3.5 million in cash.”

During the analysis of the files, part of the necessary documentation was not located at the club, which, according to the prosecutor, was not attributed to the current administration.

“In addition, we had access to some minutes of the Fiscal Council and the Deliberative Council. However, it was noteworthy that we could not, not due to Corinthians' fault, which was very cooperative, access the documentation that led to the approval of the respective accounts by both the Fiscal Council and the Deliberative Council. We had some opinions, but the invoices that led to the approval of the accounts were not here at the club.”

According to Conserino, it was agreed that new documents will be delivered in the coming days.

“The legal department made a point of contacting each councilor from that time, and we managed to receive three opinions. It was agreed that within five days we will receive the rest, and in ten days we will receive the banking documentation that demonstrates the employee's cash withdrawal.”

The prosecutor also requested access to digital records to verify the integrity of the information presented.

“We made a record of the operation, we made an addendum. In the original record, it was also noted that I sent a letter to the IT director to provide a backup from 2018 to 2025 of all transactions that ornamented the approval or not of accounts of the last three former presidents. This operation was important because we requested this demand in writing, which will be delivered to the Public Prosecutor's Office as soon as it is done. In the record, we also noted the need for this technological proof, even to verify the integrity of the delivered documentation and enable an examination by public bodies.”

Club speaks of total transparency

The legal director Pedro Soares stated that the current administration fully cooperated with the operation.

“Everything that is available we left at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office. The location where the documentation is stored was visited, and an explanation of the functioning of this entire mechanism at the time was given. As is very clear, the Osmar Stabile administration is of total transparency. It is of total support to the Public Prosecutor's Office for the investigation of the facts,” the director pointed out.

When asked if the visit marks a new phase of cooperation between the club and the Public Prosecutor's Office, the prosecutor highlighted that Corinthians should position itself as a victim if irregularities are proven, while the legal director reinforced the current administration's commitment to investigating the facts.

“The contact was very productive. The goal is to make it clear that the biggest victim of all this is Corinthians. Corinthians must understand that it has, in the future in case of eventual condemnation, the possibility of moral damage reparation, material damage compensation. Corinthians must genuinely position itself as a victim. As a victim, it is moving in line with the Public Prosecutor's Office, which is the guardian and defender of society. In this case, the one who was clearly harmed was Corinthians,” stated Cássio Conserino.

“Of course. Not only with the Public Prosecutor's Office but with the entire Corinthians nation. The commitment of the Osmar Stabile administration is of total transparency, opening up all these questions. We have to safeguard the club's image, do it consciously, preserve the Corinthians brand. We always seek this and talked with Dr. Cássio. The investigations are conducted by the authorities, and we who are representing the club today have to facilitate as much as possible for this to happen as quickly as possible,” pondered Pedro Soares.

The legal director also commented on the difficulties encountered in gathering old club files.

“Since I took office, this was my first mission. The chronological order of things demonstrates this, it was already a great difficulty to gather the documents. They were quite disorganized, we tried to facilitate as much as possible to help the Public Prosecutor's Office. We tried to show the greatest principle that governs the Law, which is the principle of good faith.”

“We delivered what we found, it was from the club that what we did not locate, we made a police report informing the lack of these documents and informed the Public Prosecutor's Office. One of the main factors that led the doctor was this, seeking alternatives to provide a basis for the Public Prosecutor's Office's analysis.”

Stage of the investigation into the Augusto Melo administration

The prosecutor also commented on the stage of the investigation involving former president Augusto Melo, removed from office last year after becoming a defendant in the VaideBet case. According to Conserino, there are still not enough elements for evaluation.

“Regarding Augusto Melo, the documentation we received is quite precarious, and we are not in a position now to assess what will be done, so I cannot anticipate any kind of action against him due to the lack of documentation that proves any issue during the term.”

Next steps of the investigation

According to Conserino, the inquiry continues on different fronts, with the most advanced case involving cash advances and possible irregular invoices.

“Await the judge's decision regarding the Duilio complaint and proceed with the cash advances and possibly fake invoices. These two topics run parallel in two or three procedures. The most advanced so far is the cash advances during the Duilio and Andrés administrations,” concluded the prosecutor.

Official club statement

After the visit, Corinthians released an official statement confirming the meeting with the prosecutor.

“Sport Club Corinthians Paulista informs that president Osmar Stabile received, this Thursday (12), the institutional visit of the Public Prosecutor of the State of São Paulo (MPSP), Cassio Conserino, in a meeting held at the club's administrative headquarters.

The meeting was also attended by Corinthians' Legal Director, Pedro Soares, and the Public Prosecutor Thiago Marim.

During the meeting, Corinthians reiterated its commitment to transparency and legality, reinforcing that it will continue to fully cooperate with any and all investigations conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office, reaffirming its respect for the institutions and the rules governing sports and public administration.”

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