This Monday, Rui Pinto learns of the decision in the Football Leaks case, some three years after the trial began and after the announcement of the decision was delayed in July due to the amnesty law.
The meeting is scheduled for 14:30 at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon, where the panel, chaired by Judge Margarida Alves, will announce a decision on 90 crimes attributed to the creator of the electronic platform that shocked the national and international community in 2015. football, revealing countless confidential documents about contracts and player transfers between clubs, businessmen and investment funds.
Still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, on September 4, 2020, the trial began at the Justice Campus, marked by the effectiveness of health regulations, strict safety measures and media attention from various countries. in a case brought about by complaints filed by Sporting and the Doyen Foundation in 2015.
After many dozens of hearings and countless media representatives testifying in the courtroom, all that remains to be seen is what the court’s decision will be and the possible impact of the law on amnesty and pardon of sentences approved as part of Pope Francis’ visit to Portugal. . Rui Pinto, now 34, was under 30 when he was charged, so the presiding judge considered he was covered by the diploma.
Stressing that “certain crimes for which Rui Pinto is responsible in court will be excluded from such an amnesty, namely attempted extortion and crimes falling under the category of cybercrimes,” the judge indicated in a July ruling that the amnesty could apply to 68 crimes related to with unauthorized access. and 14 correspondence violations, which together represent 82 of the 90 crimes attributed to the main defendant in this case.
Rui Pinto was seen by some as a hacker and by others as a whistleblower acting in the public interest. However, at the end of his final speeches, in January this year, he admitted his regret: “I’m not going to say that my life is ruined, because I’m still alive, and as long as there is life, there is hope.. … But I clearly led behave wrongly by breaking the law. Today I have a conscience that I didn’t have many years ago.”
The decision puts an end to this trial, but Rui Pinto already knows that he will continue the trial after a new accusation by the Ministry of State (MP), which became known in July. The creator of Football Leaks is now charged with 377 crimes related to accessing emails from Benfica and other clubs, the league, companies, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, the Inland Revenue and the National Internal Security Network.
Rui Pinto, 34, was charged with 90 crimes: 68 for unauthorized access, 14 for violation of correspondence, six for unlawful access, against organizations such as Sporting, Doyen, law firm PLMJ, the Portuguese Federation Football (FPF) and the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR), as well as for computer sabotage of the Sporting Gardens and for extortion, in an attempt to do so. This latest crime concerns Doyen and led to the filing of charges against lawyer Anibal Pinto.
The creator of Football Leaks has been at large since August 7, 2020, “thanks to the cooperation” of the Judicial Police (PJ) and his “critical instinct”, but for security reasons he is included in a witness protection program at an undisclosed location. and under police protection.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.