Portuguese Minister of Justice speaks about reopening at trafficking conference

http://www.publico.pt/sociedade/noticia/reabertura-do-caso-maddie-comprova-accao-da-pj-diz-ministra-da-justica-1610380

Reopening of the Maddie case proves PJ action, says Justice Minister
LUSA 25/10/2013 - 22:13



The Justice Minister Paula Teixeira da Cruz, said on Thursday that the reopening of the case of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007, in the Algarve, is due to the Judicial Police (PJ), and denied any British pressure.

"The PJ developed approaches that permit the reopening of this process," said the official, adding that "it is easy to understand" that fact, through "reported the Attorney General's Office and the PJ." "There are often crimes almost perfect and not all are found around the world. We have the notion that if the PJ asked reopening, has good reason to do so. And we have to be proud because if the PJ has good reasons, was not quiet all this time, "he said.

Paula Teixeira da Cruz spoke to reporters after the closing of the International Conference on Human Trafficking, organized by the Center for Judicial Studies, Lisbon. Minister underlined that "there are many ways and many forms of trafficking of traffic people "and admitted that the economic crisis and financial crisis," it is clear that these networks trafficking in human beings and situations to drill "and become" more sophisticated.

" Taking as an example the case of Lampedusa, the Italian island that became one of the main entry points for illegal immigration from Africa, Europe, Paula Teixeira da Cruz stressed the existence of "people with no alternative way of life," which "accept being trafficked." "It is an acceptance of revolt but it is preferable to no life, "he said.

Also present at the closing of the conference, Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Equality, Teresa Morais, revealed the provisional figure of 164 victims of human trafficking, flagged in Portugal in 2013 when missing only account for a quarter. Teresa Morais said that the Government is preparing a new plan for this reality, which should be completed by the end of the year.

I don't seem to recall any of the Gonc squad mentioning this....

That's because they don't want their dumbed down Gonc fans to be educated about it?

What happens if it turns out that, in the course of investigating human trafficking, it turns out that the PJ picked up information about Madeleine's current whereabouts?

And there's never been a satisfactory explanation for Jacinta Rees' death near Faro in spring 2008, has there?

We know that that is very possible, Bonny. It is also our opinion that Jacinta Rees stumbled into something possibly concerning Madeleine. That is true... 

Just a reminder:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/archive/news/jacinta-rees-murdered-covered-up-by-portugal-police/story-e6frf7l6-1225942761917

Portugese police covered up murder of Jacinta Rees, says family


BY LAURIE NOWELL AND LUCY CARNE SUNDAY HERALD SUN OCTOBER 24, 2010 12:00AM



Melbourne woman Jacinta Rees died after she was hit four times in the head with an axe / Supplied Source: Supplied

Foreign police say axe death was suicide
Family "let down by our Government"
Wants more answers to suspicious death
A MELBOURNE woman was murdered in Portugal and her death covered up by police there, a Sunday Herald Sun investigation has found.

Former international model and fashion executive Jacinta Rees was hacked to death with an axe at her cottage in the Algarve, in southern Portugal, two years ago.

In a sequence of events chillingly similar to the death of Britt Lapthorne, local police claim the death was a suicide - despite a coronial examination in Australia finding she died of extensive injuries caused by repeated blows with an axe and evidence of defensive wounds on her arms and legs.

"Jacinta's skull had been caved in with an axe. She clearly had defensive wounds also," said Jacinta's sister-in-law Louise.

"She suffered a horrendous death and she most certainly fought for her life.

"The GNR (Portugese national police) determined this was a suicide and our embassy concurred."

Family members have been investigating the mystery of her killing ever since. They say they have received little help from the Australian Government.

Portuguese authorities contacted by the Sunday Herald Sun would not provide any information.

The family claims consular officials botched its initial dealings with the Portuguese and have abandoned the family in its search for the truth.

"All we want is to know the truth about what happened to her. She was our sister and our parents' child - she deserves better than this," said Jacinta's brother, Cameron.

Suspicious death

Jacinta died in April 2008, in the courtyard of her home at Sao Bras de Alportel, near the city of Faro.

Portuguese police told local reporters her death was an accident, then said it was suicide.

But a Victorian Coroners' report says she died from "blunt force injury to the left side of the head".

"This injury pattern with trauma to both head and the left arm raises serious concerns. Further investigations are being undertaken via the Victorian Police Department's homicide squad," it concludes.

An initial Portuguese autopsy report also suggests Jacinta's death was a murder.

Despite those reports, the Portuguese police closed the investigation and passed the case on to the Interior Ministry as a diplomatic matter.

Crime theory

One theory about Jacinta's death was that she found out something that cost her life.

The area where she lived is a trafficking route from North Africa and the Middle East for the illegal trade in drugs - mostly hashish - and also in stolen children.

The village of Sao Bras de Alportel is 30km from the resort of Praia de Luz where British child Maddy McCann disappeared.

Her family said child smuggling was an issue Jacinta was concerned about and might have spoken up about.

"Jacinta may have stumbled across something," brother Cameron said.

"She left a note for someone saying she was leaving and she did not know how things would work out and asked that they forgive her, but the police construed it as a suicide note," he said.

"It wasn't a suicide note - she was scared of something.

'Let down by Government'

The Rees family said they felt let down by the Federal Government.

They said the Lapthorne family and the victims of the Kokoda air crash were given appropriate help and compassion while they had received little help.

The family had to pay for the repatriation of Jacinta's body - which took a month - and was eventually reimbursed by the Government.

"To this day, no one has given us an answer as to what happened to Jacinta. We've sent off letters to heaps of people in positions of influence. No one's interested, absolutely no one," she said.

The family received the Portuguese Assistant Prosecutor's report into Jacinta's death in December 2009 - almost two years after her death.

They have been quoted up to $19,000 to get it translated into English. The Federal Government has refused to help.

"Apart from the trauma and heartache, the financial impact on the family has been gruelling. Sorting out Jacinta's affairs meant Cam wasn't working and we had to cash in his long service leave to be able to afford to bring her home.

"We didn't qualify for victims of crime compensation in Australia because the crime occurred in Portugal and we didn't qualify for a similar scheme in Portugal because we are Australians."

The family said DFAT's mismanagement of the case had cost it financially and caused much heartache.

"Despite all the facts, DFAT has never acknowledged Jacinta's death as a murder," Louise said.

=================

The area where she lived is a trafficking route from North Africa and the Middle East for the illegal trade in drugs - mostly hashish - and also in stolen children.

The village of Sao Bras de Alportel is 30km from the resort of Praia de Luz where British child Maddy McCann disappeared.

Her family said child smuggling was an issue Jacinta was concerned about and might have spoken up about.

I do wonder if the PJ, now free of their rotten apples, uncovered something to do with Madeleine in the course of investigating trafficking.

It would seem to be too much of a coincidence that it didn't have something to do with it?

Maybe all of this was too difficult for Gonc to figure out, unless of course, he was protecting people?