The collective of judges of the Football Leaks case proposed this Thursday that Rui Pinto may consult a copy of the records seized by the Judiciary Police (PJ) at his premises, instead of being given a copy, as requested by the defense.
This request from the lawyers of the creator of the electronic platform, Francisco Teixeira da Mota and Luísa Teixeira da Mota, was, according to the magazine Sábado, presented in March and authorized in April by judge Margarida Alves, but the Public Ministry (MP) and the assistants of the process then appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal of Lisbon, risking the ‘slippage’ of the trial – which is already in the final stretch – for 2022.
At issue is access to Appendix F of the file, created by the PJ from the files of one of the disks seized in Hungary and essentially consisting of emails allegedly accessed and exfiltrated (unauthorized transfer of data from a certain closed computer system) by Rui Pinto .
The proposal was discussed today between all parties present at the Lisbon Central Criminal Court behind closed doors before the start of the 44th session, which then began with the reading of the order by the president of the collective of judges, Margarida Alves. According to the principals’ attorneys, this access to the devices is “essential to their right of defence”, with the court now seeking a compromise solution.
In order to find a solution that would safeguard the rights, the court suggested that a copy of the computer devices could be made. The copy solution made by the PJ and only consulted at the PJ’s premises would enable the analysis, the defendant not being in possession of such copies”, said the judge, stressing that the proposal was explained to all those involved in the process.
Urged by the court to rule on the application, MP, Bar Association, Sporting, Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and Doyen did not oppose the proposal, as did the defense of the creator of Foobtall Leaks, who accepted the solution presented, while the representative of the assistant Rui Costa Pereira was not present.
However, the representative of the PLMJ company and the assistants João Medeiros and Inês Almeida Costa, Tiago Rodrigues Bastos, asked for “a period” to discuss the issue with his clients, and the court granted five days to obtain a response to the request.
Rui Pinto, 32, is responsible for a total of 90 crimes: 68 of improper access, 14 of violation of correspondence, six of illegitimate access, targeting entities such as Sporting, Doyen, the law firm PLMJ, the FPF and the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), and also for computer sabotage to Sporting’s SAD and extortion, as attempted. This last crime concerns Doyen and it was also what led to the prosecution of lawyer Aníbal Pinto.
The creator of Football Leaks has been free since August 7, “due to his collaboration” with the PJ and his “critical sense”, but he is, for security reasons, included in the witness protection program in a non-local place. revealed and under police protection.
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