Malinka wiped clean hundreds of files on his computer

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/7513


May 30, 2007
By Matt Drake

Police in the Algarve confirmed Murat is their chief suspect but under Portugese law they need further evidence before they can arrest him, let alone press charges.

It is believed they are waiting for the results of DNA samples. Yesterday it emerged that the jobless Murat, a former estate agent, had met Russian Sergey Malinka, the other man at the centre of the inquiry, the day before Madeleine was snatched.

Murat, whose claims of innocence are dogged by alleged inconsistencies, has refused to reveal what the encounter was about.

Last night detectives were examining fresh evidence that Malinka, 22, a Moscow-born IT expert, wiped clean hundreds of files on his computer hard drive minutes before police swooped on his apartment in Praia da Luz. He denies any involvement in her disappearance.

Both men have been questioned about a series of telephone calls between them in the hours immediately after Madeleine was taken from the up-market Mark Warner Ocean Club holiday resort 17 days ago.


Forensic experts have found no evidence of Madeleine having been taken to Murat’s home, but checks have revealed that Malinka telephoned Murat’s landline at 10.30pm on May 3, just 30 minutes after the girl went missing.

When Murat did not answer, Malinka is reported to have called Murat’s elderly mother Jennifer. Phone records show the men were in regular contact in the vital few hours after the kidnap.

Mrs Eveleigh, who runs a bed and breakfast near Praia da Luz, confirmed Murat had met Malinka shortly before the youngster, from Rothley, Leics, disappeared.

“Robert did meet with Sergey. He is just not certain which day it was,” she said. “He does not remember speaking to Sergey on the phone on the night the little girl
vanished.”

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