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Convicted rapist and prime Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Bruckner will be forced to wear an electronic ankle tag when he walks free from prison to stop him fleeing abroad while investigators continue probing his potential role in her disappearance.
The request for the tag was filed by the Braunschweig public prosecutor’s office on 5th August, and will be ruled on by the Penal Enforcement Chamber in Hildesheim on 29th August, just weeks before Bruckner is due to be released.
Bruckner, 48, is serving a seven-year sentence in Oldenburg Prison for the 2019 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Praia da Luz, Portugal – the same resort where three-year-old Madeleine vanished in 2007.
His release, expected in September 2025, follows completion of the mandatory portion of his sentence, with deductions for time served since his arrest in 2018.
Once freed, Bruckner must register a permanent address, get approval to leave Germany, and report any change of residence or workplace immediately.
The prosecutor also wants him banned from entering certain areas that could give him opportunities or incentives to reoffend. Officials highlighted his extensive criminal record, which includes convictions for burglary, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse.
His early release was made possible after an outstanding EUR 1,447 (GBP 1,250) fine from a 2015 forgery and bodily harm case was settled. German media reported it may have been paid by a former Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) employee.
Authorities stressed that clearing the fine removed a legal obstacle but was not the sole reason for his release, which is primarily due to sentence completion.
The Braunschweig prosecutor’s office and the BKA continue to investigate Bruckner as the prime suspect in Madeleine’s abduction and presumed murder.
The British toddler disappeared from her parents' holiday flat in Praia da Luz on 3rd May 2007 and has never been found.
Bruckner was first named as the prime suspect in 2020, after phone records placed him in the resort at the time and investigators highlighted his history of sexual crimes in the Algarve.
In 2022, Portuguese police also made him a formal suspect, though no charges were filed because of a lack of forensic evidence.
Searches in Portugal have continued, including a major operation near Bruckner’s former home in June 2025, as detectives try to find any physical link to Madeleine.
Bruckner's release is legally unrelated to the McCann case, but the strict conditions reflect fears he could try to escape scrutiny.
He has reportedly spoken of plans to "disappear" to a country without an extradition treaty.
The BKA has said publicly that it believes Madeleine is dead, but has admitted it still lacks the crucial evidence – such as a confession or DNA – to charge Bruckner.
Madeleine's parents remain determined to uncover the truth, and German authorities are under growing pressure to secure progress before the convicted rapist is released under supervision.
(Simona Kitanovska / newsX)
Byline Journalist: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Spotter: Mike Leidig
Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig
Byline Senior Writer: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Copychecker: Angela Trajkovska
Byline Illustrator: Angela Trajkovska
Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig
Geography: Braunschweig
Subject: Legal, Crime, Sex Crime, Paedophilia
T4 Editor Story Rating: 9
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 6
T4 Total rating: 7.5
