Corinthians director Fábio Soares resigns amid probe into irregular security firm | OneFootball

Corinthians administrative director Fábio Soares has resigned, submitting his letter last Friday, amid a criminal investigation into an allegedly irregular security company hired by the club. According to Globo.com, the case has drawn scrutiny from the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

President Osmar Stabile had said he planned to remove Soares, or that the director could opt to quit. Soares is cited as instructing Fernando José da Silva, who describes himself as the club’s operational manager, to create a company to pay new security staff.

Corinthians paid R$ 676,000 to Mega Assessoria Operacional Ltda, which had no Federal Police authorisation for private security work and no signed contract with the club.

Fernando initially told Sport Insider that Soares advised him to open the firm, then changed his account to say Stabile gave the order. The president denies this and says he did not know of any irregularities, though he admits an administrative error and sought Soares’s suspension during the inquiry.

Prosecutor Cássio Conserino has opened a criminal probe into possible irregularities in the hiring of the company created in Fernando’s name. He noted sequential invoices numbered 01, 02 and 03, at least one listing the same payer and service recipient, and said this could suggest cash being returned, citing what he described as routine cash advances or reimbursements via bogus invoices at the club.

He also pointed to Mega’s registered address, which appears to be a typical residential property in São Paulo. The investigation will examine potential theft of funds, false representation, tax offences and other irregularities. Soares and Fernando are the first named and are due to testify on the 26th.

Source: Globo.com