I admire your faith in the PJ, although I'm a little surprised given their track record.
8th August 2007
"The family are not suspects. This is the official position," said a spokesman for the Portuguese police, Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa.
https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Reports:_Parents_of_missing_girl_Madeleine_McCann_are_suspects_in_her_disappearance
Could the McCanns become suspects?
“Up until now, they are not suspects.
If we have any suspicions we are compelled by law to charge them in order to preserve their rights.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mr Sousa, when questioned over whether police have admitted a mistake in charging Robert Murat, the only formal suspect in the case so far, he responds: “I am unaware that Portuguese police have apologised to Robert Murat, and for us to apologise, it would mean we have done something wrong.
Whenever someone is suspected of involvement in a crime this person needs to be constituted a formal suspect to protect their rights”.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brendan de Beer
During the 90 minutes I spent with Chief Inspector Olegário Sousa, it became clear that nothing will please him more than announcing to the world that Madeleine McCann has been found alive and well. While Kate and Gerry have been facing growing criticism - it was quite apparent that Mr Sousa, as a person (and not a police detective) is one of their biggest sympathisers. He even banged his desk, breaking what had been a statue-like posture to illustrate the point that, albeit an official one, the McCanns are not suspected of being involved in their daughter’s disappearance. While secrecy laws restrict and the austere image portrayed by PJ detectives seems a prerequisite of being accepted into the force, Mr Sousa is very human and if he is any way a reflection of how his colleagues operate, than Portugal can be proud of its police force and that all is being done to find Madeleine.
http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/exclusive-chief-inspector-olegario-sousa/22774It has been said on the forum that being constituted arguido in Portugal is the equivalent of being questioned under caution in Britain.
That should be borne in mind in this instance particularly as no charges were laid.