The Portuguese detectives who ran the inquiry into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance are leading the investigation into a missing Angus man.
Jon Anderson Edwards, 30, from Arbroath, did not return to his apartment in the West Algarve on September 15 three days after sustaining a head injury.
His sister Kenna Balion and mother Lesley Edwards have criticised the police for not taking the disappearance seriously despite Jon leaving his mobile phone and passport in his flat.
They travelled to Portugal last week to find out what was being done by the Polcia Judiciria.
Kenna, 31, who returned to Arbroath on Sunday, said she felt detectives had done little to investigate Jon’s case before they arrived.
She said: “I don’t think anything was done by police until the story hit the press last week. When I went to Lagos on Thursday, Jon’s house was pointed out to me by his friends.
“We looked into his bedroom window and all his belongings were still there, including his mobile phone. The police hadn’t even been there 10 days after he went missing.
“I think they thought he’s a young guy, he might just have gone away. But because he left his passport and belongings, they should have taken it more seriously.”
Lesley has remained in Portugal to continue to search for her son.
On Friday the pair were interviewed separately by detectives in Portimao but were not told what would be done to find Jon.
“Mum and I were separated and taken into different rooms to give a statement,” Kenna said.
“It’s exactly the same detectives from the Madeleine McCann case, the same interpreter, in the same rooms. It was quite eerie.
“They didn’t tell us what they were going to do next and we didn’t hear back from them all weekend. I don’t have a lot of confidence in them.”
Jon had been working as a chef at a restaurant in Lagos since the start of the month. He posted on his Facebook page on Friday September 12 that he had fallen down a hill and knocked himself unconscious.
That afternoon he turned up for work but went home after he was sick. He didn’t turn up for work on Saturday or Sunday.
His flatmate left for work on Monday and when she returned home, Jon was gone.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said the force is “aware” of Jon’s disappearance and communication is being handled through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.