Madeleine McCann: Robert Murat 'To Be Questioned Again Over Disappearance'

Robert Murat could be questioned again in relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, it has been reported.

Murat, 41, was the first person to be named as an official suspect in the disappearance of the little girl back in 2007.

The IT consultant has always maintained his innocence, was never arrested and was cleared and had his “arguido” or suspect status removed in 2008. He later won substantial libel damages and an apology from several British newspapers.

Madeleine McCann has been missing since 2007

Portuguese daily newspaper Jornal de Noticias reports British expat Murat is among seven due to be questioned by Scotland Yard in the coming weeks in Faro, Portugal, as persons of “special interest”.

It also claims Murat’s girlfriend Michaela Walczuch and her former husband Luis Antonio are due to be questioned. BBC sources also report Murat and Walczuch are due to be questioned.

ITV News says it spoke to Murat on Wednesday and that he confirmed he had only learned of the news through Portuguese media reports.

Robert Murat has always denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance

The channel adds: “Portuguese newspapers today published claims that Murat will be spoken to in the coming weeks. This has also been confirmed to ITV News sources.”

Murat told The Guardian neither he nor his lawyer had been contacted by the police, but added: "My conscience is clear and I have no problem speaking to police.

"I have more important things to worry about, like running my business, paying my taxes and I also need to paint my house."

In June Sergey Malinka, a 29-year-old Russian-born IT engineer was questioned by British detectives reviewing the case.

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Malinka, who was first questioned by police as a witness in 2007, was never declared a suspect and has always denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance.

It is believed he was questioned in 2007 because of his business links with Murat.

Madeleine, who was then nearly four, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal's Algarve on May 3 2007, as her parents dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard told Huffington Post UK the force would not supply a "running commentary" on the case.

Madeleine would now be aged ten.