Rui Pinto, the whistleblower whose revelations played a crucial role in investigations into Manchester City, will continue to enjoy witness protection. Authorities in Portugal have paused their decision to withdraw him from a special safety programme.
According to The Guardian, the Commission for Special Security Programmes (CPES) recognised that Pinto should have been informed in advance of the reasons for the withdrawal of protection and provided an opportunity to contest that decision.
The commission will now review the case. The Portuguese Ministry of Justice confirmed that Pinto had not been adequately informed about the reasons for ending his programme and had not been given the chance to exercise his right to appeal.
His protection was set to conclude last Saturday, but the commission is now expected to provide Pinto with risk assessment reports, which suggested that the threat to his safety was deemed low. A meeting concerning this matter took place on July 9.
Pinto will have ten working days to review the documents underpinning the decision and to respond to the findings contained within.
The prospect of losing his protection prompted the whistleblower to launch a fundraising initiative to secure his financial future. He had previously expressed fears for his safety following credible death threats. In April, he was also attacked in Lisbon.
How Rui Pinto is linked to the investigation against Manchester City
Pinto was granted witness protection status in April 2020 when the Portuguese judicial police took him under protection after he agreed to provide investigators with access to millions of files.
These documents were obtained from football clubs, companies linked to Angolan entrepreneur Isabel dos Santos, and other organisations suspected of illegal activities. Dos Santos herself denies any allegations of corruption.
The disclosed materials have aided investigations by judicial, tax, and sports authorities across Europe, including the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City.
Pinto's lawyers insist that any decision regarding the cessation of protection must take into account his cooperation with law enforcement and the risks associated with the information he has released.
Public attention on the situation appears to have prompted authorities to reconsider the initial decision.
Pinto remains willing to cooperate with UK authorities regarding the Manchester City case and other issues arising from his disclosures. Additionally, he has provided French investigators with millions of documents that can be shared with other countries, including the UK.
