Corinthians President Indicted: 1.4 Million Reais Embezzlement Scandal Rocks Brazilian Football

Corinthians President Augusto Melo Indicted in Embezzlement Scandal São Paulo, Brazil – The São Paulo Civil Police have concluded their investigation into a contract between the Corinthians football club and the betting company VaideBet, resulting in the indictment of club president Augusto Melo. Melo faces charges of criminal association, money laundering, and qualified theft. The investigation, detailed in a 116-page report, alleges that 1.4 million reais were embezzled from a sponsorship payment. According to the police report, the money passed through several shell companies before reaching an account linked to a drug trafficking organization. Delegate Thiago Fernando Correia stated that "the quartet acted in a coordinated manner, perpetrating a series of crimes." The report names Alex Fernando André and Alex Cassundé, who worked on Melo's campaign, along with Marcelo Mariano dos Santos and Sérgio Lara Muzel de Moura, as co-conspirators. Augusto Melo, in a statement on Tuesday, declared his innocence and vowed not to resign. The investigation continues to unfold, with further details expected to emerge.