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A convicted child abuser and his girlfriend were being questioned
by police in southern Spain
last night over the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann.
Danilo Chemello, 61, and
Aurora Pereira Vaz were arrested in a dawn raid on a
beachside villa in the exclusive Sotogrande resort in
Algeciras.
Reports said part of the villa’s garage had been converted into a
child’s bedroom.
Mr Chemello has been on the run from France for his
suspected links to criminal activities. The Italian national was previously
jailed for 18 months for child abuse. His Portuguese girlfriend is reportedly
being investigated over allegations that she is involved in illegal adoptions
in Europe.
A police source said that the Mr Chemello had been
under surveillance after claiming on June 8 that he knew what had happened to
Madeleine following her abduction 57 days ago. He wanted to negotiate with her
parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, to claim the £2.5 million reward on offer for
their daughter’s safe return.
Portuguese police said they had yet to establish a “direct link” with her
disappearance from an Algarve
resort. |
