Rui Pinto will retain his protected witness status after Portugal’s Special Security Programs Commission nullified a prior decision to revoke it, the Ministry of Justice announced on Friday.
Ministry of Justice Nullifies Revocation Decision
The Special Security Programs Commission declared the absolute nullity of a September 22, 2026 deliberation, along with all subsequent procedures and a formal notification issued on September 30, 2026, according to a Ministry of Justice statement. The Commission determined that the beneficiary was not properly notified of the grounds for closing the program, nor was he given the information or opportunity to exercise his right to a defense.
Under the updated directive, the Commission will issue a new notification to Pinto. Authorities will provide him with the risk reassessment report and relevant elements from meeting minutes, granting a 10-day business window to submit his formal response regarding the projected decision, the ministry stated.
Six Years Under Special Security Protection
Pinto has held protected witness status for six years, entering the program after leaving preventive detention and agreeing to cooperate with law enforcement authorities. Despite the ongoing security arrangements, prior notices indicated that the computer hacker was scheduled to vacate the secure residence assigned to him on October 10.
The status review came to a head following a meeting on Thursday between Minister of Justice Rita Júdice and the Special Security Programs Commission. The review established that procedural safeguards regarding due process had not been correctly met before initiating the program’s termination.
Pinto Faces Suspended Sentences for Electronic Mail Breaches
The protective measures run parallel to a complex history of legal proceedings across Europe. In September 2023, the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon convicted Pinto in the Football Leaks case to a four-year suspended prison sentence. The court found him guilty of attempted extortion, aggravated violation of correspondence, and illegitimate access.
Next Steps for the Special Security Program
With the September proceedings officially voided, Pinto’s special security program remains fully in effect while the Commission issues its new notification and reviews his upcoming submission. The ten-day response window will dictate the timeline for any subsequent administrative steps regarding his housing and protection status.
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