He was heard by videoconference as a witness for the defense of the defendant Rui Pinto, the journalist, who in recent years has stood out for exposing cases of alleged corruption in Angola, drew a very negative picture of the country at this level, considering that "corruption was the main institution of the state" and that its "epicenter was the Presidency of the Republic," in the figure of former president José Eduardo dos Santos and his family.
"There was a great impact [of Luanda Leaks], because they became matters of international domain. It was the first time there was a scandal in Angola that got worldwide coverage. You couldn't stifle the devastating impact it had on the dos Santos family," said Rafael Marques, who continued, "I don't believe there is another case of a presidential family looting a country like the dos Santos family."
Asked by Rui Pinto's defense about the effect of Luanda Leaks - which exposed in January 2020 alleged financial schemes of businesswoman Isabel dos Santos and her husband that would have allowed them to take money from the Angolan public treasury through tax havens - the witness admitted that he had been contacted by other journalists before the publication in international media outlets and that the revelations preceded the action of justice.
"The processes were already underway and were being investigated by the Angolan justice system. It may be a coincidence, but it was after Luanda Leaks that the Angolan justice promoted the seizure of Isabel dos Santos' assets. It was very important to shed light on the rampant looting in Angola. The levels of corruption remain high in Angola, but it is no longer institutionalized. And this is an effect that deserves all our support," he said.
The director of Reporters Without Borders, Christophe Deloire, was also heard during the 43rd session of the trial currently underway at the Central Criminal Court in Lisbon. He stated that the whistleblower "is essential to discovering the truth" and that he also deserves protection, just like journalistic sources. The witness endorsed the public interest defense of the information revealed by Rui Pinto through Football Leaks and Luanda Leaks.
"The information that was revealed deserved the attention of major media outlets, not those who seek sensationalism, but the public interest. The issues of tax evasion and corruption have come to the fore," he noted, adding: "This information has allowed the revelation of matters of obvious public interest.
The trial in the Football Leaks case will not continue until June 24. At the same time, Rui Pinto's lawyer, Francisco Teixeira da Mota, told the panel of judges, chaired by Margarida Alves, that the defendant will make statements at the trial, after the examination of witnesses and before the final arguments.
Rui Pinto, 32, responds for a total of 90 crimes: 68 of improper access, 14 of violation of correspondence, six of illegitimate access, targeting entities such as Sporting, Doyen, the law firm PLMJ, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and the Attorney General's Office (PGR), and also for computer sabotage of the SAD of Sporting and extortion in attempted form. This last crime concerns Doyen and was what also led to the indictment of the lawyer Aníbal Pinto.
The creator of Football Leaks has been free since August 7, "due to his cooperation" with the Judicial Police (PJ) and his "critical sense", but is, for security reasons, inserted in the witness protection program in an undisclosed location and under police protection.
