The trial of the “Football Leaks” case, which has hacker Rui Pinto as the main defendant, resumes this Thursday, July 13, after several delays.
According to a statement from the support office for the President of the District of Lisbon, at the session scheduled for today at 9:30 am, the court will once again interrogate the inspector of the Judiciary Police (PJ) José Amador, who coordinated the investigation of the case, after have already been questioned at the start of the trial.
In addition, the session will also count on the questioning of inspector Hugo Monteiro, who has already been heard and even subjected to a confrontation with fellow inspector Aida Freitas, following differences in the testimonies provided.
A source linked to the case told Lusa that the re-examination of José Amador was requested by the defendant Aníbal Pinto, in a request that was later signed by the defense of the other defendant: Rui Pinto.
In question should be an email presented to the court by inspector Aida Freitas at the April 22 session, in which the inspector coordinating the investigation of the ‘Football Leaks’ case, José Amador, summoned colleagues who would be heard in audience for a meeting with the prosecutor Marta Viegas, who has represented the Public Ministry (MP) in the trial.
As a result, lawyer Aníbal Pinto, accused in this case of the crime of attempted extortion, presented an incident of refusal by the magistrate, a request that was also seconded by Rui Pinto’s lawyers, but which was refused last month by the MP.
On the other hand, the questions raised around the PJ’s external diligence reports on the surveillance operation of the meeting between the former Doyen CEO Nélio Lucas, the collaborator Pedro Henriques and Aníbal Pinto could also be addressed in the testimonies of the two witnesses in the session. from Thursday.
Rui Pinto, 33, 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 PLMJ law firm, the Portuguese Federation of Football (FPF) and the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), and also for computer sabotage of Sporting’s SAD and for extortion, in the attempted form. This last crime concerns Doyen and was what also led to the indictment of lawyer Aníbal Pinto.
The creator of Football Leaks has been free since August 7, 2020, “due to his collaboration” with the Judiciary Police (PJ) and his “critical sense”, but is, for security reasons, included in the program of witness protection in an undisclosed location and under police protection.
