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LISBON: Portuguese authorities probing the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann have placed a British man under formal investigation in the case, Lusa news agency said Tuesday.
It quoted police sources as saying the suspect was 32-year-old Robert Murat, who was questioned late Monday along with an unidentified German woman and a Portuguese man as part of the investigation into the disappearance of four-year-old Maddie.
Police did not reveal what led them to place him under investigation.
Investigators on Monday searched Murat's home in Praia da Luz some 100 metres (yards) from the Ocean Club complex where the little girl went missing on May 3 while her parents ate in a nearby restaurant.
The case has sparked an outpouring of sympathy from celebrities, sports stars and the general public in Britain.
Portuguese newspapers said Murat is divorced, works for a real estate agency and lives with his elderly mother and small son in the villa in Praia da Luz. They said he also has a four-year-old daughter who lives with his ex-wife in England.
Investigators carried out a search of the villa's garden and emptied the swimming pool. They left carrying boxes and plastics bags, which Portuguese media said may contain video cassettes.
Media reports said the man had worked for the police in their inquiry as a translator, and taken a keen interest in the case.
Police had decided to search the house after a tip-off from journalist Lori Campbell, of Britain's Sunday Mirror, who found Murat's behaviour suspicious, according to British media.
"Basically he surfaced on Friday afternoon last week and was walking around as if he was somebody official. He claimed that he was just a local guy who spoke fluent Portuguese and English and was helping the family," Campbell said.
"He was coming in and out of the family apartment speaking with the media and acting like he was somebody official. But when questioned about it, he was very vague about his position."
- AFP/yy
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