Call for Dos Santos whistleblower to be freed

More than 100 journalists and other public figures in Europe have called for the release of Rui Pinto, the source behind leaked documents which showed how Africa's richest woman made her fortune, from pre-trial detention.

Mr Pinto, the author of the Football Leaks website, is being held on remand in Portugal since his extradition from Hungary a year ago.

He leaked documents that alleged Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of a former president of Angola, was able to enrich herself through corruption. The documents are also known as the "Luanda Leaks”.

Ms Dos Santos has denied the allegations.

Mr Pinto, a Portuguese national, awaits trial on charges relating to the computer hacking of sports companies, a Lisbon law firm and the office of Portugal's attorney-general.

Leading journalists from across Europe and former ministers and sports professionals have signed a document calling for him to be freed.

They argue that a long pre-trial detention, four years after the events in question, is unprecedented in Portugal. They also cite the "unequivocal public interest" of the information he released.

While Mr Pinto must answer to the charges, he should for now be freed, they say.

Ms Dos Santos is already under criminal investigation by the authorities in Angola for corruption and her assets in the country have been frozen.

This article originally appeared on BBC News 

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