The mystery of what exactly happened to well-known Vale do Lobo restaurant manager, Ricardo Claro, last Friday is slowly being unravelled by PJ police who have already arrested one suspect for his abduction and subsequent robbery, conceding that a second has already fled to his native Brazil, via Madrid.
The most pressing concern, however, is that 50-year-old Claro is still missing.
Social media commentary lurches every which way: with even a ‘medium’ pitching in to say Claro is injured, but alive, in Quelfes (not that far from Olhão where his car was left in Olhão in the early hours of Saturday morning). By that time a number of ATM withdrawals had been made from Claro’s bank account – including from ATM machines in Spain.
Tabloid Correio da Manhã writes that investigators are working on evidence this far which shows that both suspects are connected by employment to Claro: the first being a current employee at the Vale do Lobo restaurant that Claro manages; the second being a former worker.
The PJ’s reading of the abduction is that it stems from “a work conflict” with the second suspect, who was reportedly seen “arguing with Claro” on the day that the businessman disappeared.
It was after that argument that withdrawals started to be made from Claro’s bank account, writes CM.
Claro’s Peugeot 2008 car was ‘located’ on Tuesday afternoon in Olhão, following several public appeals by his family, particularly his sister, who shared information widely on social media. But according to locals, it had stood there since the early hours of Saturday.
Searches of the area saw police find “two jackets, a set of keys and adhesive tape” in a nearby rubbish bin, which they believe to be related to the case.
The car key was found in the same street by children.
CM adds that when investigators reached the Peugeot, they were thinking they might find Claro in the boot. Thus, ‘hope’ still exists that he will be found alive.
Little is being said at this point about the suspect in police custody (and what he may have already told detectives). The man, aged 39, will be brought before a magistrate at some point today.
Source material: Correio da Manhã/ Facebook
