“Rui Pinto? Co-operating with justice can't make you disposable” | OneFootball

Filipe Sousa, a member of parliament from Juntos Pelo Povo (JPP), has urgently asked the Minister of Justice for clarification بشأن the end of the special security program protecting Rui Pinto, who disclosed confidential documents in the Football Leaks case. The lawmaker wants to know the grounds for the decision, the criteria used in the risk assessment, and what protection is предусмотрено after the current measures are withdrawn. In the request, he issued a warning: “Those who cooperate with justice cannot be treated as disposable.”

Portuguese justice authorities have decided to end Rui Pinto’s witness protection program next Saturday, a decision challenged by the defense. In a request addressed to Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice, dated Friday, Filipe Sousa places at the center of the debate the State’s responsibility toward those who cooperate with the justice system. More than an explanation for ending the program, the MP demands answers about what happens afterward.

The lawmaker’s first argument is one of principle: cooperation with the justice system must be matched by concern for the safety of those who provide it. It is in this context that he is demanding clarification from the Government.

“The State cannot benefit from a person’s cooperation with the justice system and, when that cooperation is no longer needed, simply abandon them to their fate. Those who cooperate with justice cannot be treated as disposable,” Filipe Sousa argues.

The MP presents the issue as an obligation on the part of the State to provide clarification, and not merely as a disagreement over the decision that was taken.

“These are issues that the Portuguese State has an obligation to clarify,” he argues in the request.

Filipe Sousa’s position links the cooperation provided to a duty of protection. The next step is to understand the grounds on which the program’s termination is based and whether the risk was assessed with the consequences of that withdrawal in mind.

As for the decision itself, the MP asks for information on its legal basis, the alleged violations, and the opportunity given to Rui Pinto to state his position. The risk assessment is another central point of the request.

“What is the specific legal basis for the decision, which rules were allegedly violated, and whether Rui Pinto was heard before the program was terminated, as well as what criteria were used in the most recent risk assessment,” Filipe Sousa asks.

The question also extends to the conditions Rui Pinto will face after the program ends. The lawmaker wants to know whether that scenario was taken into account in the assessment of his safety.

“Whether that assessment took into account the scenario following the withdrawal of the protected residence and the remaining security measures,” he also asks.

The request thus distinguishes between the reasons for ending the protection and the risks that may result from that decision. For the MP, clarifying the procedure also means explaining how the situation after the withdrawal of the measures was weighed.

As for the future, Filipe Sousa demands that the Government identify what protection is planned and clarify whether alternatives were considered. The demand for answers is accompanied by a request for access to the documentation underpinning the decision.

“What protection will be ensured after October 10, whether alternative measures were considered, and what steps the Minister of Justice intends to take to ensure that Rui Pinto is not exposed to dangers that the State had a duty to prevent,” the MP demands.

JPP also wants to know the elements that would make it possible to assess the grounds for ending the program. That request includes an explicit caveat regarding information whose disclosure could affect security.

“In addition to the political answers, JPP requests delivery of the decision ending the program, the opinions that supported it, the PSP risk assessment report, elements relating to the alleged non-compliance, records of Rui Pinto’s hearing, and documentation concerning any alternative protection measures, while naturally safeguarding elements whose disclosure could compromise security,” the request adds.

In this way, the initiative combines the demand for political explanations with the search for the documents supporting the decision. The question running through it is the same: what security guarantees will remain in place for Rui Pinto when the protection program ends.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.