Corinthians vice-president seeks prosecutor’s recusal and annulment of indictment | OneFootball

Armando Mendonça’s defence has moved to recuse prosecutor Cássio Conserino of the São Paulo state public prosecutor’s office, MP-SP, from the criminal case involving the Corinthians vice-president, alleging a lack of impartiality and asking to void the indictment.

According to Meu Timao, the filing, an exception of suspicion, argues Conserino overstepped institutional limits by engaging in the club’s internal politics, displaying public support, aligning with factional agendas and commenting on Corinthians matters on social media.

The defence links the probe to a climate of intense infighting at the club, citing impeachment bids, power disputes and campaigns to turn Corinthians into a SAF, Sociedade Anônima do Futebol.

Lawyers invoke Superior Tribunal de Justiça, STJ, precedents, the Criminal and Civil Procedure Codes and doctrine to say prosecutors are bound by impartiality and that suspicion applies where there is extraprocedural interest. They also cite posts attributed to Conserino, participation in SAFiel events, a prominent role in club debates, alleged parallel inquiries without notifying the defence and a leak of the indictment before formal notice.

They ask the court to recognise suspicion, remove Conserino, annul the complaint and any pre-procedural acts he led, and reassign the case to another prosecutor. A stay of proceedings is also requested until the incident is decided. The defence frames recusal as a safeguard for neutrality, saying accusations should not be driven by personal, ideological or emotional interests.

Mendonça became a defendant after a São Paulo court accepted a complaint over missing Nike kit from storerooms at CT Dr Joaquim Grava and Parque São Jorge. He faces charges of qualified and continued embezzlement, attempted qualified embezzlement, qualified theft by abuse of trust and coercion during the proceedings.

Prosecutors allege he appropriated 131 items, sought to remove 19 special NFL shirts, took a further eight shirts and intimidated staff who ran the internal audit. The court rejected requests to suspend his membership, bar him from club premises or restrict contact with officials, citing insufficient grounds for cautions. He denies all accusations.

Source: Meu Timao