Prosecutor criticises Corinthians president for backing vice in alleged Nike kit diversion case | OneFootball

Prosecutor Cássio Conserino lodged a court submission criticising Corinthians president Osmar Stabile for signing an institutional note backing vice-president Armando Mendonça amid an ongoing criminal case.

UOL reports that the filing followed an unsolicited defence brief from Mendonça that attached Stabile’s declaration.

The case stems from an inquiry into alleged diversion of Nike-supplied sports gear. Earlier this month the São Paulo prosecutor’s office charged Mendonça with continued embezzlement, attempted embezzlement, aggravated theft by abuse of trust, and coercion during proceedings, citing 131 items and alleged intimidation of audit staff.

Stabile argued the audit did not find diversion or appropriation, that the club was not a patrimonial victim, that officials may use materials in institutional representation, and that control flaws do not in themselves amount to crime.

Before ruling on admissibility, Judge Amanda Eiko Sato at the 25th Criminal Court in Barra Funda exceptionally sought the prosecution’s view, prompting Conserino’s response. He asked the defence brief be struck from the record for breaching due process, citing article 396 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Conserino said Stabile’s stance jars with that of a crime victim, noting reports of kit shortages for athletes, and signalled he would oppose Corinthians acting as assistant to the prosecution under Stabile. He added the alleged crimes are subject to unconditional public prosecution, so the president’s note is legally irrelevant, suggested the posture may breach the club statute, and asked that Romeu Tuma Júnior, chair of the Deliberative Council, represent the club due to a potential conflict.

He reaffirmed the complaint, said some alleged property crimes were admitted by Mendonça in a notarial record, and sought urgent measures to protect witnesses from coercion. After being charged, Mendonça took a 30-day leave to mount his defence, criticised the audit and maintained he committed no crime.

Source: Meu Timao