Corinthians Vice-President Armando Mendonça avoids arrest

A judge in São Paulo has denied a request from the Public Ministry for the preventive arrest and removal of Armando Mendonça, the vice-president of Corinthians. The decision, issued by Judge Amanda Eiko Sato of the 25th Criminal Court, also rejected several precautionary measures, including restrictions on Mendonça's access to club facilities and communication with potential witnesses.

Mendonça is a defendant in an investigation known as the ‘Nike Case,’ involving allegations of misappropriation of sports equipment. Prosecutors argued that the recent dismissal of Marcelo Munhoes, a former IT director and key witness, suggested an attempt to intimidate witnesses and interfere with the judicial process. However, the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove Mendonça influenced the dismissal, noting the termination occurred within a political-electoral context.

Mendonça faces charges including aggravated misappropriation, qualified theft through abuse of trust, and coercion in the course of a process. He has denied the allegations, maintaining that the movement of materials was administrative and documented.