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The Portuguese hacker whose release of a cache of documents led directly to Manchester City being charged with 115 rule breaches has avoided prison, according to a report.
In 2018, Rui Pinto released hundreds of thousands of documents and emails to media organisations across Europe, including those of City, which allowed the Premier League to impose charges on their current champions.
The charges were confirmed by the Premier League in February, which related to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration, UEFA regulations, profitability and sustainability and co-operation with Premier League investigations.
But Pinto, according to The Times, has avoided prison time, receiving a four-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of nine offences by a panel of three judges.
The hacker who leaked documents that led to Manchester City’s 115 charges has avoided prison time
Rui Pinto, 34, was given a four-year suspended sentence after releasing hundreds of thousands of documents
The investigation into City came to the public’s attention earlier this year with the allegations being made in February, however it was in fact part of a process that has gone on behind the scenes for around four years under top secrecy.
City have denied the charges ever since they were imposed, welcoming a review into the matter in a statement released at the time.
It read: ‘Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.
‘The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
‘As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.’
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Pinto reportedly said during his trail that he was a whistleblower rather than a criminal, acting in the public interest as he admitted he was responsible for the leaks.
He said he was ‘shocked and disgusted’ at what he found, and his lawyers claimed that the 34-year-old has helped authorities tackle crime in sport, particularly in financial dealings.
He is said to have helped authorities in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Malta in investigations.
Charges against City included those related to financial information regarding revenue and profitability and sustainability
Pinto was also found guilty of five counts of unauthorised entry into computer systems and three counts of intercepting emails
He faces a second case with prosecutors accusing him of 377 other hacking-related crimes
Pinto was also found guilty of five counts of unauthorised entry into computer systems and three counts of intercepting emails.
He was convicted of hacking computers belonging to the Doyen Sports investment fund, the Portuguese attorney-general’s office and a Lisbon law firm.
Though he has avoided prison time for this particular leak, there is reportedly a second case against Pinto that could take a few years to settle, with prosecutors accusing him of 377 other hacking-related crimes including one count of attempted extortion.
He is also known for exposing plans to form the European Super League several years ago.
