Soccer Secrets Hacker Leaves Prison, Enters Lockdown

“I do think Luanda Leaks has been an earthquake,” Bourdon told The Times. “I do think it’s opened the eyes of the Portuguese people to his serious contribution.”

Still, the charges against Pinto remain serious. As well as the alleged extortion attempt, he burrowed into the servers of several Portuguese entities, including the top-division soccer team Sporting Clube de Portugal, the national soccer federation, a well-known law firm and even the country’s attorney general’s office.

The trial, despite the impact of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, is scheduled to take place later this summer. And there remains uncertainty over what Pinto’s cooperation with the Portuguese authorities can bring him. Portugal law does not allow cooperation agreements with criminally accused individuals, something that is commonplace in the United States. There are also concerns the information gleaned by Pinto would be inadmissible in a Portuguese court because it was illegally obtained.

For now, Pinto’s lawyers say, the plan is to try and get him moved to larger, more comfortable accommodation than he currently finds himself in.

As for what might be revealed next, Bourdon said there are likely to be a number of anxious individuals and institutions.

“If we reach a point where all the data is used in Portugal, it will be a source of worry for those who are scared of being held to account,” he added.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/sports/soccer-secrets-hacker-rui-pinto-football-leaks.html