Scotland Yard has now revealed that Russian national Sergey Malinka is no longer of any interest to them. The last time the Met officers were in Portugal, in May this year, they conducted interviews with four people, known as arguidos. One of them, Russian-born Sergey Malinka, has been told he is no longer under suspicion.
But now detectives have been given the go-ahead to question the remaining suspects they believe hold vital information that could help them crack the case.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/madeleine-mccann-police-return-portugal-4092680
Previously, Robert Murat - who was himself named as an arguido in the case before being cleared of any involvement - said it was "ridiculous" that Mr Malinka had been questioned as a suspect.
Mr Murat had worked with Mr Malinka in 2006 and 2007 setting up a property website.
He told the BBC: "It's absolutely ridiculous. It makes no sense.
"They've talked to him before, in 2007, so why are they talking to him again? He's a good professional and a hard worker. I don't know Sergey that well, but he is a nice lad."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28101400
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/madeleine-mccann-investigation-detectives-to-return-to-portugal-in-makeorbreak-moment-9687189.htmlBritish police are believed to be preparing to head back to Portugal as part of renewed investigations into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
A group of detectives from Scotland Yard’s Operation Grange are reportedly set to travel back to the holiday resort of Praia da Luz next month, from where the-then three-year-old Madeleine was taken in 2007.
They are expected to hold meetings with senior Portuguese officers and are understood to have been granted permission to interview up to seven key suspects as well as investigate new areas of interest.
An undisclosed source told the Daily Mirror that the development was a “make-or-break moment” in the seven-year investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance.
The source said “thousands of pieces of evidence” had been re-examined by the British police team to get to this stage, adding this latest move was “far from a scatter gun approach”.
With a finite budget for the investigation, the informant said detectives were “acutely aware” of the need to get results.
Madeleine’s parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, will be informed of any new developments but are not expected to accompany officers.
Mobile phone data has put at least three of the suspects, due for questioning, close to the scene of Madeleine’s disappearance on May 3.
In May investigators travelled to the Algarve region, where the McCanns were staying, to supervise a search of scrublands, though nothing was found.
So far the Met probe into Madeleine has cost UK taxpayers upwards of £6 million.
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The Independent hasn't reported that Malinka is no longer of interest - neither has the short report in CdM online. It seems the net is being cast wider, as no mention is made of the other witnesses who were questioned last month being spoken to again.
