The revelation of the Luanda Leaks case had a “great impact” in Angola, by giving a global prominence to corruption in the country, defended this Wednesday the Angolan activist and journalist Rafael Marques, during the trial of the Football Leaks case.
Heard by videoconference as a witness listed for the defense of the defendant Rui Pinto, the journalist, who stood out in recent years for denouncing cases of alleged corruption in Angola, drew a very negative picture of the country at this level, considering that “corruption was the main institution of the State “and that its” epicenter was the Presidency of the Republic “, in the figure of former President José Eduardo dos Santos and his family.
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“There was a big impact [do Luanda Leaks], because they have become matters of international domain. It was the first time that there was a scandal in Angola that had worldwide coverage. The devastating impact it has had on the Santos family has not been able to drown out, “said Rafael Marques, who continued:” I do not believe there is another case of a presidential family plundering a country like the Santos family. “
Questioned by the defense of Rui Pinto about the effect of Luanda Leaks – who exposed in January 2020 alleged financial schemes of businesswoman Isabel dos Santos and her husband, which will have allowed them to withdraw money from the Angolan public purse through tax havens -, the witness admitted having been contacted by other journalists before publication in international media and that the revelations preceded the action of justice.
“The processes were already underway and were being investigated by the Angolan justice. It may be a coincidence, but it was after Luanda Leaks that the Angolan justice promoted the seizure of Isabel dos Santos’ assets. The light that shone on the rampant looting in Angola. Corruption levels remain high in Angola, but it is no longer institutionalized. And this is an effect that deserves all the support “, he stressed.
Also heard at the 43rd session of the ongoing trial at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon was the director of the organization Reporters Without Borders, Christophe Deloire, who declared that the whistleblower “is essential to the discovery of the truth” and that it should also deserve protection, as as the journalistic sources. The witness subscribed to the defense of the public interest of the information revealed by Rui Pinto through Football Leaks and Luanda Leaks.
“The information that has been revealed has received the attention of major media outlets, not those seeking sensationalism, but the public interest. The issues of tax evasion and corruption have gained evidence,” he noted, adding, “This information allowed the disclosure of matters with evident public interest “.
The trial of the Football Leaks case continues only on the 24th of June. At the same time, Rui Pinto’s lawyer, Francisco Teixeira da Mota, told the panel of judges, chaired by Margarida Alves, that the defendant will make statements at the trial, after the witnesses have been questioned and before the final allegations phase.
Rui Pinto, 32, is responsible for a total of 90 crimes: 68 of undue access, 14 of violation of correspondence, six of illegitimate access, targeting entities such as Sporting, Doyen, the PLMJ law firm, the Portuguese Federation of Football (FPF) and the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), and also for computer sabotage to Sporting’s SAD and for extortion, in the attempted form. This last crime concerns Doyen and was also what led to the pronunciation of the lawyer Aníbal Pinto.
The creator of Football Leaks has been free since August 7, “due to his collaboration” with the Judiciary Police (PJ) and his “critical sense”, but is, for security reasons, part of the protection program for children. witnesses in an undisclosed location and under police protection.
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