Sérgio Janikian responds after tax conviction draws scrutiny in Corinthians election | OneFootball

Sérgio Janikian, a Corinthians presidential pre-candidate, has responded after publicity around his appeal-court conviction for a tax offence in Santa Catarina, handed down on 23 July.

According to Meu Timao, his defence, led by lawyer Thiago Quintas Gomes, alleges a procedural flaw and seeks to annul the case, filing embargos de declaração because counsel were not notified to deliver oral arguments. The team also stresses that he remains presumed innocent until any final judgment.

The complaint dates to 2009 and concerns alleged cancellation and improper issuance of invoices at a company where Janikian was a managing partner. He and Cláudia Oliveira Peres Leskovar Borelli were acquitted at first instance for lack of evidence of direct management involvement, while Jannivaldo Marques Santos was convicted.

The Santa Catarina prosecutor appealed, and in July desembargador Volnei Celso Tomazini, of the fifth Criminal Chamber of the Tribunal de Justiça de Santa Catarina, overturned the acquittal. He said Janikian should show he lacked decision-making power, noted a duty to supervise even in a commercial role, and imposed three years, one month and 15 days in an open regime, citing serious collective harm.

Janikian’s defence accepts he held 10% of shares but says he ceased management in December 2008 after partner disputes and later sued for moral damages. It says the prosecutor supported the embargos to annul the ruling, which await a hearing date as of 28 September 2026.

Corinthians’ statute requires criminal clearance certificates and bars candidates only after final convictions for listed crimes, for eight years post-sentence. The election is on 28 November, with Janikian among five pre-candidates alongside André Negão, José Augusto Mendes, André Castro and Rozallah Santoro.

Source: Meu Timao

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