Rui Pinto ready to help UK authorities in Manchester City case — The Guardian
Portuguese whistleblower Rui Pinto, whose document leaks helped launch an investigation into the financial affairs of football club Manchester City, is ready to cooperate with UK authorities in exchange for protection from threats. The Guardian reports.
Terms of cooperation
According to the publication, Pinto’s priority remains cooperation with investigators provided that appropriate security measures are in place. He may lose his protected witness status in Portugal. If this is confirmed, he will be able to cooperate with authorities in other countries from October 10.
Pinto has detailed knowledge of documents, people and companies connected to the Manchester City case. The Guardian notes that he can also provide documents that may not have been considered during the Premier League investigation. Pinto previously cooperated intermittently with authorities in France, Germany and Belgium.
Football Leaks materials
Hundreds of millions of files collected by Pinto as part of Football Leaks and Luanda Leaks concern not only Manchester City. Some of these materials are held not only by Portuguese authorities.
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After Pinto’s arrest in Budapest in January 2019, but before his extradition to Portugal, French authorities copied the contents of all his electronic devices. According to the publication, documents can be transferred between countries as part of international cooperation.
As The Guardian reports, an independent commission found Manchester City guilty on more than 100 charges. The investigation uncovered sham contracts intended to artificially increase the club’s revenue by £900 million. On Friday, the club confirmed that it would appeal the tribunal’s verdict.
Pinto’s defence appealed the decision to end his protection in Portugal. The whistleblower himself wants to leave the country and move to a secret location. More than €19,000 has already been raised through a fundraising campaign for this purpose.
