2007-12-27
Li
Investigation: The process will not be completed in January
Public Prosecutor wants the extension of the secrecy of justice


The Public Prosecutor will ask for the extension of the secrecy of justice in Madeleine's case. On January 3 eight months are completed since the disappearance and, after that period, the process should become public. Source linked to the investigation confirmed to the CM that "it is likely that the Prosecutor will ask for an extension."

Presently, it is more than certain that the investigation will not be completed in January - the rogatory letters are still in Portugal-and neither the PJ,nor the Prosecutor wants the information already included in the process till now to become public before the end of the investigation .

"After the period of eight months, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CPP) provides for the possibility of a request to postpone the lifting of the secrecy of justice for three months," explained a source of the Public Prosecutor to the CM. "The criminal judge, then, may, or not, approve the request," says the same source.

If confirmed the request of the MP and the approval by the judge, Madeleine's case should only become public in April 3rd. At that date the process can then be consulted.

There is also a second possibility of extension, after finishing those three months. For that the Prosecutor would have to apply for a term "objectively appropriate and necessary for the completion of the investigation," continues the source of the Public Prosecutor.

However, according to the new code, this second extension only applies to cases of terrorism or highly organized crime, with conducts that involve crimes of conspiracy, trafficking of persons, arms smuggling, drug trafficking, corruption, trafficking of influences or money laundering. So far, Madeleine's case has not been classified as any of these crimes.

Source linked to the research assured, however,to the CM that "the rogatory letters are about to be sent to England." They were initially scheduled to be sent last week but the same source explained that "is a complicated process because it involves the translation of documents in legal terms."

There is not still a precise date to send the letters where the Judiciary Police defines the questions and what people will be questioned on British soil.

DETAILS

BLUE BAG

The disappearance of a blue bag from the apartment where the McCanns spent holidays, now revealed by Gerry, was investigated by PJ at the beginning of the case.

PEDOPHILES

Source linked to the investigation assured to the CM that all English pedophiles who were in Portugal in May 3rd were investigated and cleared.
John Mira Godinho
http://www.correiomanha.pt/not.....&p=200