Amaral was one of five officers of the Policia Judiciara in Portimao, Algarve, accused and charged for alleged torture of the mother of another missing girl. The five men were accused of "scenes of aggression" against Leonor Cipriano, whose nine-year-old daughter, Joana, vanished in September 2004. The little girl's body was never found but Cipriano and her brother, Joao, were charged and convicted of her murder. Three PJ officers were cleared of torture as the victim could not identify her torturers due to having a bag put on her head. However, the court was satisfied that Leonor was indeed beaten. Amaral was convicted of falsifying documents (perjury) and another officer, Nunes Cardoso, was convicted of falsifying evidence at the court in Faro.