Portuguese Law explained
'Formal Suspect' - The Portuguese Law
Updated: 14:33, Tuesday May 15, 2007
The Portuguese police now consider Robert Murat to be an arguido, which translates as a formal suspect.
An arguido is someone who is being treated by police as more than a witness but has not been arrested or charged
A person undergoing police questioning can ask to have arguido status, giving them the right to a lawyer and to maintain their silence.
Mr Murat can be referred to as a defendant but it does not mean he has been accused of a crime.
He is considered important to any future trial whether as an accused or a vital witness.
He is now part of the judicial process, so he can either be called upon as a man charged with a crime or a man who is a witness vital to a case.
Under "arguido" he now has to obey the following rules:
:: remain in the country
:: must report to police every 5 days - with proof of residence and ID
:: he cannot change his residence
:: may have the right to an attorney, and if he does he can stay silent
The process leading up to this would have involved an investigation, questioning by the Judicial Police and an order from a judge to search his home.
Portuguese lawyer Artur Rego told Sky News: "Murat was questioned initially, as I understand, as a witness.
"Due to his statement and comparing it with the statements from other witnesses and with evidence collected from the crime scene they concluded that he's more than a witness - he was a party in the case.
"So they move a step forward and declassify him as a witness and formally make him a suspect, although he has not been charged with any crime."
