The disappearance of Ricardo Claro, human resources and administrative director at Well, a luxury restaurant in Vale do Lobo, is under investigation by the Judicial Police after he was last seen on Friday night last week, 13th March.
According to social media posts by Mr. Claro’s sister, the family suspects he may have been abducted for the purpose of extortion. His bank cards have reportedly been used to withdraw the maximum daily amounts, behaviour described as entirely out of character.
“I urge people to keep an eye on roads and ravines, for any crashed, poorly parked or abandoned vehicle. I know from his bank cards that he was robbed,” wrote his sister, Sandra Primitivo.
The key to the vehicle driven by Ricardo Claro, which was found parked in Olhão, has been recovered nearby, along with two coats and rolls of tape discovered inside rubbish bins. According to information obtained by Jornal de Notícias, investigators suspect the car may have travelled between Olhão and Huelva, in Spain. Detectives from the Southern Directorate of the Judicial Police are now attempting to gather CCTV footage to determine whether Ricardo Claro was in the vehicle and, if so, whether he was alone or accompanied.
The businessman’s final movements are being examined in detail. Officers have already searched a property owned by Ricardo Claro in Moncarapacho, in the municipality of Olhão, which is currently rented out. They have also been to the luxury restaurant in Vale do Lobo where he worked as administrative and human resources director, and are questioning individuals within his close circle.
Ricardo Claro was last seen on Friday after dining at his mother’s home in Faro, leaving at around 21:00.
His car, a Peugeot 2008 which had initially also been reported missing, was later found on Tuesday afternoon, 17th March, in the Olhão area.
Ricardo Claro holds a law degree and previously worked as a commercial director. He also spent around a decade working as a journalist for a regional Algarve newspaper based in Tavira.
Source: JN
