UPDATED 13.05 HOURS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2007
By Cecília Pires
THE FILES containing all the information amassed to date in the Madeleine McCann case are now being organised and numbered by Polícia Judiciária (PJ) investigators for delivery “as soon as possible” to the public prosecutor.
The Resident has learned that the information has been requested by judge José de Magalhães e Menezes, who is responsible on behalf of the Ministério Público for analysing the case and deciding whether there is enough material for charges to be made.
He can also request further information from the PJ or dismiss the case as not having sufficient evidence for prosecution.
According to chief-inspector Olegário Sousa, the PJ spokesman, “this is a normal procedure because the Ministério Público is the official ‘owner’ of the investigation. The Ministério Público can ask for the files at any moment of the investigation.”
He said that since the investigation started, there has been a regular exchange of information between PJ investigators and the judge.
However, this was the first time that judge José de Magalhães e Menezes formally asked for the entire file on the case.
Once the files have been delivered, possibly by the end of today, police can still keep their investigations going.
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