A clandestine ticket sales scheme for one of the Morumbis boxes on concert days has thrown the president of São Paulo, Julio Casares, into the middle of a crisis that could cost him the remainder of his term, which runs until the end of 2026.
This Monday (15), members of an opposition group started a movement to remove the president based on a report on the website ge.com, according to which Mara Casares, Julio’s ex-wife and who held the position of women’s, cultural and events director, and Douglas Scwartzmann, deputy director of grassroots football, led an alleged ticket embezzlement scheme.
After the website released an audio in which the two admitted the irregular practice, they requested leave from their positions. In a statement, São Paulo said that “it will carry out the due investigation of the facts. And, based on this analysis, it will adopt the measures that prove necessary.”
Also in a note, Mara admits the content of the conversation, but says that it was used out of context. “I admit, however, that such a conversation between us may have been in a high tone, but I want to make it clear that neither I nor Mr. Douglas received any type of advantage, whether financial or favoritism of other natures at any time before, during or after the entire development of this case”.
A third person also participates in the recorded conversation between Mara and Douglas, Rita de Cassia Adriana Prado, who would be the intermediary of the scheme. She was responsible for selling the tickets, which cost R$2,100 each. With cabin 3A alone, the estimated revenue was R$ 132 thousand. The location is in the eastern sector of Morumbis, described in internal documents as the “presidency room”, in front of the office used by Julio Casares.
Douglas and Adriana did not comment until the publication of this text.
The case was taken to court by Adriana, who filed a civil lawsuit alleging that a company apparently appropriated tickets without paying the total agreed amount. After registering the bulletin, Mara Casares and Douglas Scwartzmann began to pressure Adriana to withdraw the action, fearing that the scheme involving the three would be revealed.
“The three of us know how it was done. You’re not a fool, nor am I or anyone else. This was done improperly. In a non-normal way. It’s not normal. A favor was done. And you’re wasting a favor, burning the people who helped you. Your mistake back there caused a loss, it’s over. There’s no recovery, dear. There isn’t. Everyone lost there. Now, do you want to harm Mara and Marcio? Is that it?”, said Scwartzmann in the recorded conversation.
Quoted by the leader, Marcio Carlomagno is CEO of São Paulo and Casares’ right-hand man, tipped to be the name of the situation in the next election. Despite the reference to his name, he remains in office. In a note, he “refutes the assertion that the box was used clandestinely.”
According to the audio of the conversation between Mara, Douglas and Adriana, it was Marcio who passed on the right to commercial use of the box to Mara. This property was then transferred to Adriana’s company.
In light of the exposure of the case, the opposition group “Salve o Tricolor Paulista” released a note in which it called for an investigation into the scandal and also for the removal of President Julio Casares. To make an action official in the Council, the request must have at least 20% of the house’s signatures, currently this number is equivalent to 52 councilors. According to the UOL portal, the opposition group has 55 names.
After the request has been filed, the evaluation is carried out by the President of the Council, Olten Ayres. If the action is considered valid by the disciplinary and ethics committees, the case goes to a vote by the house.
See note from São Paulo
São Paulo Futebol Clube informs that it became aware of the content of the audio through the press and that it will carry out the necessary investigation of the facts. Based on this analysis, the Club will adopt whatever measures are necessary. On the morning of this date, counselors Douglas Schwartzmann and Mara Casares requested leave from their respective management positions.
