The Daily Telegraph
Fiona Govan
The Portuguese police have been widely criticised for their handling of the investigation into the abduction. But although officers insist they doing everything possible, the leading figures in the inquiry remain steadfastly behind the scenes. At the forefront of one of the most intensively scrutinised investigations in recent history is Guilhermino Encarnação, 59, the director of the Judicial Police for the Algarve. Described as a "desk strategist'' in the Portuguese media, a police spokesman admitted early in the case that Mr Encarnação's experience of abduction cases was limited, saying: "He has a background in detective work but this case is unique, so he has only a bit of experience in this area.'' He is said to be working closely with Goncalo Amaral, the head of the regional Judicial Police in Portimão. Both officers were involved in a controversy over a previous inquiry into a missing child.
Joana Cipriano disappeared in the village of Figueira on September 12, 2004, only seven miles from Praia da Luz. In echoes of the McCann case, the hunt for Joana got off to a false start when the Republican National Guard, another police body, failed to seal off house where she was last seen. It was only five days later - after hundreds of police and friends of the family had trampled over the scene, and after relatives had cleaned the house with bleach - that the Judicial Police took over.
Joana's body was never found, but the case was solved. Leonor and Joao Cipriano, her mother and uncle, were convicted of killing her and sentenced to 16 years in jail, but they never confessed.
A third detective forms the trio leading the search for Madeleine and he has impressed the McCanns. Luis Neves, 41, the national director of the DCCB, the Portuguese equivalent of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, was sent from Lisbon and met the McCanns on Thursday. A source close to the family said: "He is young and the McCanns were impressed not only with his grasp of the investigation but his efforts to inform them of its progress.''
The public face of the investigation has been Chief Inspector Olegario Sousa. Adept at press conferences in which he often fails to answer questions with clarity, he admits that his experience lies in investigating "crimes against the freedom of press''.
Rarely observed at the scene of Madeleine's abduction or available for comment, those leading the investigation have frequently been spotted lunching at the Carvi seafood restaurant in Portimão.
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