Witness Statement (Hand written)

Eliseu Jorge Craveiro Viana

Occupation: Receptionist 

Place of Work: Main Reception

He has worked at the Ocean Club for seven years, working as receptionist and sometimes as a driver. He did not work on 3rd May 2007, only arriving for duty at 00.00 on 4th May at the main reception. When he was arriving for duty, along the Prof Gentils as usual, he noticed movements and people circulating. There were also people in the street, however he did not see anything abnormal or which attracted his attention. When he passed the main road next to the swimming pool and Tapas restaurant it was about 23.55. It was when he arrived at the main reception that he was told by a colleague that girl had disappeared, that she was English and called Madeleine. There was great confusion as nobody knew how this could have happened. As regards elements concerning this he heard about them from the Portuguese and English press and from comments from guests.

He works basically in the reception with sporadic contacts with the bars and restaurants in the complex. He has contacts he has coffee with and he sometimes visits colleagues he is friendly with. As concerns the disappearance he does not know of any useful elements. He did not hear any conversation resulting from own knowledge of the event, having just heard news from the press. He works in a place where many people enter and where there are many phone calls. He does not remember having heard or seen anything strange or having seen suspicious people near the reception. He does not remember having been asked about the functioning of the OC baby sitting services, children or activities by anyone who would not have a reason to enquire. He remembers that most children have children and therefore are interested in knowing about how these services work. He has no knowledge of any child having disappeared before from the ocean Club or of the occurrence of sexual crimes.
He also says that there were many clients who were worried about this event and that some had cancelled their holiday bookings.
Signs.