MP flags ‘incompatible expenses’ at Corinthians, summons Sanchez | OneFootball

The Public Prosecutor's Office of São Paulo (MP-SP) confirmed the authenticity of the credit card invoices of Corinthians that indicate possible improper personal expenses during the administration of former president Andrés Sanchez. The official was summoned to testify.

Besides the expenses in Tibau do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte, which were later reimbursed by Andrés, the MP also identified expenses at a jewelry store and a restaurant in Fernando de Noronha in 2020.

The agency analyzed all the documents sent by the Corinthians board and confirmed “incompatible expenses” with the role of a football club president. As a result, Andrés Sanchez was summoned to testify as a suspect this Thursday, October 2, via videoconference.

The information was initially published by ge and confirmed by Gazeta Esportiva.

Understand the case

The Criminal Investigative Procedure (PIC) was initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office in mid-June this year, by prosecutor Cassio Roberto Conserino. 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 MP's investigation was to cover only the periods of Andrés Sanchez's (2018 to 2020) and Duilio Monteiro Alves' (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.

(Photo: Reproduction/YouTube)

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

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 Disciplinary Committee. Fans are calling for punishments and even 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 criminal report with 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 requested the court to temporarily remove Andrés, Duilio, and Augusto Melo from the Corinthians' Deliberative and Advisory Councils during the investigation. So far, however, there has been no response from the Judiciary.

(Photo: Peter Leone/O Fotografico/Gazeta Press)

Corinthians informed, about two weeks ago, that they completed the delivery of confidential documents requested by the MP. The club makes itself available to the authorities but fears leaks and emphasizes the care to not further expose the institution's image.

In addition to the alleged personal expenses, the MP also opened an investigation to determine a possible connection of the club with the criminal faction Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), motivated by the testimony of Romeu Tuma Júnior, president of Corinthians' CD, collected by the agency.

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