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Russian denies links to Madeleine | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Russian man questioned in Portugal over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has denied any involvement. | A Russian man questioned in Portugal over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has denied any involvement. |
IT expert Sergey Malinka, 22, was taken to a police station in Portimao and computer equipment was removed from his flat in Praia da Luz, Algarve. | |
He says he is "completely" innocent and that his life had "fallen apart". | He says he is "completely" innocent and that his life had "fallen apart". |
Briton Robert Murat, 33, is the only formal suspect in the case of four-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, who vanished on 3 May. | Briton Robert Murat, 33, is the only formal suspect in the case of four-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, who vanished on 3 May. |
Map of locations | Map of locations |
Police have not officially confirmed the man they have questioned is Mr Malinka. But they said the man had been questioned as a witness. | |
They stressed there had been no arrests and no charges as yet in their investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. | |
Mr Malinka is believed to have designed a website for Mr Murat's property business. He is said to have contacted detectives himself after reading reports police were probing connections between Mr Murat and a Russian. | |
Following his release, Mr Malinka said he was interviewed as a witness and not a suspect, and that he did not have a criminal record in any country. | Following his release, Mr Malinka said he was interviewed as a witness and not a suspect, and that he did not have a criminal record in any country. |
He said: "I've invested seven years of my life in this country trying to succeed, and suddenly in one hour it's all fallen apart." | He said: "I've invested seven years of my life in this country trying to succeed, and suddenly in one hour it's all fallen apart." |
Robert Murat has worked for the police as a translator | Robert Murat has worked for the police as a translator |
After spending two hours at his apartment, plain clothes officers carried out two hard drives, a laptop and a black bin bag. | After spending two hours at his apartment, plain clothes officers carried out two hard drives, a laptop and a black bin bag. |
Earlier, Sally Eveleigh, speaking in the Algarve on behalf of Mr Murat, 33, told the BBC that her cousin vehemently denied involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. | Earlier, Sally Eveleigh, speaking in the Algarve on behalf of Mr Murat, 33, told the BBC that her cousin vehemently denied involvement in Madeleine's disappearance. |
"His whole life's fallen apart just from being over-enthusiastic trying to help people as he always does - that's his way," she said. | |
Mr Murat, who had helped police with translation work, was questioned by detectives for 12 hours and his mother's villa was searched. | Mr Murat, who had helped police with translation work, was questioned by detectives for 12 hours and his mother's villa was searched. |
He was later given "arguido" status by police, which means he is officially a suspect - although he can request this status himself. | He was later given "arguido" status by police, which means he is officially a suspect - although he can request this status himself. |
Officers later released Mr Murat, saying they did not have the evidence to formally arrest or charge anybody. | Officers later released Mr Murat, saying they did not have the evidence to formally arrest or charge anybody. |
Mr Murat, who previously was based with his ex-wife in Hockering, Norfolk, has recently been living with his mother Jenny, 71, at her villa, Casa Liliana, in Praia da Luz. | |
Huge reward | |
The hunt for Madeleine began in the resort town on 3 May after she was taken from the apartment where she was staying. | |
Spanish fans shown film Vigil held for Madeleine | Spanish fans shown film Vigil held for Madeleine |
She disappeared from her bedroom as her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, ate dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant. | She disappeared from her bedroom as her parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, ate dinner at a nearby tapas restaurant. |
The couple have said they will not return to the UK until they have found her. | The couple have said they will not return to the UK until they have found her. |
Rewards of £2.5m have been offered to anyone with information leading to the four-year-old's safe return. | Rewards of £2.5m have been offered to anyone with information leading to the four-year-old's safe return. |
England's cricketers have become the latest sport stars to lend their support to the search for Madeleine. | |
At the Test match against the West Indies at Lord's, the team were all wearing yellow ribbons in support of the efforts. | |
On Wednesday, Madeleine's aunt, Philomena McCann, visited Parliament to lobby MPs and peers and a fighting fund to help cover the cost of the search was launched. | |
Any money raised not needed for the search for Madeleine would be used to help find missing children in the UK, Portugal and elsewhere. | Any money raised not needed for the search for Madeleine would be used to help find missing children in the UK, Portugal and elsewhere. |
Details of how to donate to the Madeleine fighting fund - at banks, by post or via the internet - can be found at www.findmadeleine.com. | Details of how to donate to the Madeleine fighting fund - at banks, by post or via the internet - can be found at www.findmadeleine.com. |
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