Former Ocean Club driver is suspect in McCann case THE FORMER driver of the Ocean Club was made an arguido or suspect by Portuguese police following a request by Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine’s disappearance.
Published: Sun, July 13, 2014
Jose Carlos da Silva, 28, used to drive guests to their apartments once they had been ferried to the Ocean Club headquarters in Luz from airports, writes James Murray.
He formerly lived in an apartment block overlooking the Ocean Club but has since moved to a nearby run-down flat.
Now he works as a dishwasher in a restaurant and is said by neighbours to suffer poor health because of a lung condition.
The Sunday Express photographed him weeks before he was interviewed by Portuguese detectives in Faro on the Algarve where Scotland Yard officers listened intently to his every word.
We understand that on May 3 2007 there was mobile phone communication between him and a second arguido, Ricardo Rodrigues, at about the time that Madeleine left a creche somewhere near 5.30pm.
It is further alleged that at about 9.25pm he also sent a text to the younger man.
Police say this was around the time that two of the McCann holiday group left the tapas bar at the Ocean Club to check on the children sleeping in apartments nearby.
Further communication on their mobiles came at 9.38pm, around the time that another member of the holiday group went to check on the children.
A short time later there was another mobile call between the men, around the time Kate McCann went to the apartment and discovered that Madeleine, then three, was missing.
Mr Silva declined to speak to the Sunday Express.
Friends said he is a popular man who was well liked and known in the community and would never do anything wrong.
A woman friend said: "He lives alone and suffers with his health because he has problems with his lungs and he often goes to hospital for checks. He is always very polite and nice and pleasant. He is a very quiet man who leads a simple life."
Little is known about Mr Rodrigues but he is part of a group of mostly young people in Luz who contribute to an internet site showing pictures of scenic spots in the area. Fresh faced and youthful he is said to resemble a photofit prepared by an elderly British couple of a man who came to their villa with an older man to collect money for a charity on May 3 2007.
The older man is said to resemble Paulo Ribeiro, 51, another arguido. He lives in Luz and is said to be a schizophrenic.
Sources say the police wanted further information from him about a call he allegedly had with Mr Rodrigues the day after Madeleine vanished.
Operation Grange officers are hoping that the detailed questioning will help them to build up a clearer picture of events before and after Madeleine's disappearance.
A fourth man questioned is believed to be Russian national Sergey Malinka, who ran an internet firm in Luz at the time. He has always denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance and, like the others, was reluctant to speak to journalists.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/488488/Former-Ocean-Club-driver-is-suspect-in-McCann-case
