Rui Pinto's Witness Protection Status Extended Amid Controversy

Rui Pinto will keep his witness protection for now, following a surprising reversal by Portuguese authorities. The special security programmes commission (CPES) recognized that he deserved a chance to present his side before any decision was made to revoke his protection. In an official statement from the Ministry of Justice, the CPES admitted that Pinto had not been sufficiently informed about why his protection was being terminated. Importantly, he is now able to contest this decision, as the commission prepares to review the situation anew. Originally, Pinto's protection was set to expire on Saturday. The commission will also share risk assessment reports with him, which apparently indicated a lower threat to his safety. This discussion took place in a meeting back on July 9. Interestingly, on September 30, the very same day Pinto learned his witness status was being revoked, Manchester City was making headlines worldwide after an independent commission's guilty verdict against them. Pinto has ten working days to examine the documents that support the decision and to respond to their conclusions. Faced with the potential loss of his protection, he even started a fundraising campaign to secure his financial future. Having received credible death threats and endured an assault in Lisbon last April, Pinto has serious concerns about his safety. His protected status dates back to April 2020, when Portugal's judicial police placed him under their wing after he agreed to share millions of documents related to various investigations, including those connected to Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, who has denied any wrongdoing. His disclosures have sparked investigations across Europe, including the Premier League's inquiry into Manchester City. Pinto's legal team argues that the authorities need to weigh his cooperation with the justice system alongside the risks he faces before making any decisions about his protection. The growing scrutiny surrounding this case appears to have prompted the authorities to rethink their earlier stance. Pinto remains ready to assist British authorities in their inquiries related to Manchester City and other matters stemming from his disclosures, having also provided vast amounts of documentation to French investigators.