Leader was indicted by the Civil Police last week by criminal association, theft qualified by abuse of trust and money laundering
is removed from the presidency of . At a meeting at Parque São Jorge headquarters, the club’s deliberative council voted for the advance in the impeachment process of the agent on Monday (26), for irregularities in the contract with Bet, former sponsor of the club. The leader was indicted by the Civil Police last week by criminal association, theft qualified by the abuse of trust and money laundering. The vote began in January, when a tumultuous meeting ended with the approval of the admissibility of the process. Now, the chairman of the Deliberative Council, Romeu Tuma Jr, has up to five days to mark the date of the Assembly with the partners. There is no set date for the meeting, but it is expected that it will take place between 30 and 60 days.
It is noteworthy that the defense of Augusto Melo rushes with two actions at the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) and seeks to bring the issue to the Supreme Court (STF). Allies of the President hired renowned jurist José Cardozo, former Minister of Justice of Dilma Rousseff, and also filed actions in the court of SP. The score was 176 votes in favor of 57, and one white. It was enough for the simple majority of the collegiate’s votes, formed by 300 members, for the process to advance. In all, 236 counselors were present, with 234 votes and two abstentions. Who assumes is the 1st Vice President Osmar Stábile, elected in the plate of Augusto Melo and broke with the manager.
The R $ 360 million contract with Bet’s vaose became the target of an investigation from the Civil Police after surfaced commission transfers by the intermediary cited in the contract, whose owner worked on Augusto Melo’s campaign, to a “orange” company. Authorities concluded that R $ 1 million was transferred to a company pointed out as the CCP arm. The club denies having a contract with the company. In turn, Augusto Melo’s defense reiterates the conviction that the president of Corinthians “has no involvement with any irregularities related to the case” and that the only role he played by was “receiving the proposal, sent to the competent departments and signed the contract with the approval of all sectors involved.”
Augusto Melo responds to three other requests for dismissal for other management problems, which had the 2024 accounts failed amid a significant increase in the club’s liability, from approximately R $ 1.9 billion to $ 2.5 billion, according to the financial statements.
The climate in Parque São Jorge was very different from the meeting started in January. If that day the organized Gavião da Fiel made choir outside Augusto’s dismissal, this time the fans, broken with the agent, did not attend to speak out. The tracks with the words “there will be no blow” were not in sight either. The first call happened at 18h. The vote took place in the noble hall of Parque São Jorge. At 7:10 pm, just before the second call, Augusto Melo made a pronouncement admitting the defeat. He left the club after the speech.
“It’s not a resignation. I’ll fight to continue. They are the majority. There are 60 days for the general assembly and I will fight for Corinthians,” said Augusto Melo. “The game is not over, but I leave my head up. I left Corinthians at this time, for now, with salaries for seven months, with planning of a year that had everything to work.” Unlike January, when the Shock Battalion was at the club to ensure security, the meeting had a milder climate of the 300 -person collegiate, 236 attended the election, with two abstentions. The vote was performed secretly.
Throughout Monday, Augusto Melo had two defeats in an attempt to prevent the meeting. Two actions filed at the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJ-SP) were rejected and the meeting was maintained. He can still file an injunction to nullify the meeting and the tendency is for the issue to drag in court. Throughout the day, the leader also filed a request from habeas corpus after being indicted by the Civil Police in the case goes by Bet, but the injunction was denied by judge Marcia Mayumi Okiro, 2nd Court of Tax Crimes, criminal organization and washing assets and values.
*With information from Estadão Content
