Andrés asks to postpone hearing at Corinthians ethics committee | OneFootball

Andrés Sanchez will not testify before the Corinthians Ethics Committee this Monday. The former president requested, through his defense attorneys, the postponement of the hearing that was scheduled for 7 p.m. (Brasília time).

Andrés' defense claims that the former president’s participation, even via videoconference, violates the restrictive measures imposed on him by the courts. One of these is the prohibition of any contact with club officials who frequent Parque São Jorge.

Gazeta Esportiva has learned that the president of the Ethics Committee, Leonardo Pantaleão, has asked Andrés Sanchez’s defense to prove that they have requested judicial authorization to participate in the meeting. Otherwise, the committee will reschedule the hearing for a new date.

(Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians)

It is worth noting that the former president’s appearance is optional. If he decides not to attend the meeting, the Ethics Committee will uphold the testimony already given to the Justice Committee.

Andrés Sanchez will be required to clarify, with documentation, the expenses indicated on the invoices and prove that such expenditures were related to his role as president of Corinthians. After the hearing, a five-day period will be opened for the former official’s final defense to be presented.

At the end of the entire process, the Corinthians Ethics Committee will analyze and, if deemed necessary, recommend possible punishments for Andrés. According to the report, there is a possibility that the committee may suggest the expulsion of the former president.

Subsequently, Romeu Tuma Júnior, president of the Deliberative Council, will put the matter to a vote in the CD plenary. If approved, Andrés may be penalized and permanently expelled, should this be the committee’s recommendation.

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Understand the case

As revealed by Gazeta Esportiva, the Corinthians Justice Committee identified a series of expenses considered suspicious during Andrés Sanchez’s last term (2018-2020) that allegedly had no relation to the duties of a president.

The committee initially listed 50 expenses, identifying locations and amounts that, in total, reach R$ 190,523.54. Among the main charges separated and reviewed by the Justice Committee are expenses with hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, in furniture and electronics stores, as well as costs with an air taxi company and automotive centers.

The members of the Corinthians Justice Committee believe there is no evidence that such purchases were made for club use or were necessary for the president. The expenses do not have any supporting documentation attached.

Prosecutor’s Office Complaints

Andrés Sanchez was also charged twice by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP-SP). The first charge, for continued aggravated embezzlement, money laundering, and falsification of tax documents, was partially dismissed by Judge Marcia Mayumi Okoda Oshira of the 2nd Court for Tax Crimes, Criminal Organization, and Money Laundering of the Capital.

However, the MP-SP, through prosecutor Cássio Roberto Conserino, appealed the decision. As a result, the judge suspended the favorable decision for the former president of Timão and forwarded the case to the São Paulo Court of Justice.

Subsequently, Andrés was charged with money laundering and tax crimes. The Prosecutor’s Office also demanded new financial compensation for the club at Parque São Jorge. The new charge concerns alleged personal expenses of the former president on the Corinthians corporate card between August and September 2020, his last year in office.

Judge Marcia Mayumi Okoda Oshira, however, dismissed the charges. The judge understood that “there was no just cause” for opening a criminal case. It is worth noting that the charge of embezzlement has not yet been dismissed and is still being investigated by the ordinary criminal court.

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