Processos Vol III


Pages 798 - 799



Witness Statement

Najoua Chekaya


Date: 2007/06/20

Place: Praia da Luz - Lagos

Occupation: Aerobic Instructor

She comes to the process as a witness.
She worked as an aerobics instructor next to the Millenium Restaurant swimming pool, close to the Tapas restaurant in P da L.

As she does not speak Portuguese, she is assisted by the interpreter, Robert Murat.

Stated that she arrived in Portugal on 21st March 2007 for the first time, having been recruited from England by the Mark Warner company.

She was recruited to give aerobic classes, however she was also asked to carry out a Quiz (game) twice a week (Tuesdays and Sundays) in the Ocean Club Tapas restaurant.

She began her working day at about 08.15 near to the Millenium restaurant until 08.45, then at 09.30 she walked to Lagos from where she returned at about 11.30 and at about 11.45 went for lunch at the Tapas restaurant.

In the afternoon she began work at 15.20 next to the Millenium until 16.15 and then returned to the Tapas restaurant until 17.15 and then to the Millenium restaurant from 17.30 to 18.00. She finished at about 18.15 and returned to the Tapas Bar for dinner and at 21.00 did a kind of quiz with the guests who were having dinner in the restaurant.

She remembers that last Tuesday at the end of the quiz, she was invited to the table of nine guests who asked her to join them for a drink.

She was at their table for about fifteen to twenty minutes and it was there that she met Mdeleine’s father, who directly invited her to the table, however, she does not know whether Madeleine’s mother was also there.

When questioned, she said that they talked of banalities and she did not notice any aspect or behaviour that was out of the ordinary.
When questioned, she said that during the time that she was there Madeleine’s father did not leave the table, neither did any of the other guests, however, during this time one of the chairs was always empty, that of someone who had had dinner and left, not managing to indicate any identifying element about this person.

When questioned, she said she was at the table from about 21.30 to 21.50.

She does not remember anyone from outside the resort having made any questions about the functioning of the Ocean Club, or about any particular service.
When questioned, she said that she had only seen Madeleine once or twice and had merely said hello to her, no more than that.

When questioned, she said that she had never seen anyone suspicious in the vicinity of the Ocean Club.

She knows nothing more about the subject.


Reads, ratifies, signs.