Austria's justice minister has admitted police were too quick to believe Josef Fritzl, the man who imprisoned and raped his daughter for 24 years.

Maria Berger said Mr Fritzl's account that his daughter ran away to join a cult was not sufficiently questioned.

It is the first time Austrian officials have admitted to lapses in the investigation into her disappearance.

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Island find stirs Hobbit debate ... Mr Fritzl, currently in custody, is due to face questioning from the state prosecutor later on Wednesday.

In an interview with Austria's Der Standard newspaper, Ms Berger is quoted as saying: "Looking at everything that we know up to now, I can see a certain gullibility - especially when it comes to that tale that she had joined a sect, with which the suspect explained the disappearance of his daughter."

Conviction

She said she was certain that such an account would have been more closely examined if presented to the authorities today.

Mr Fritzl fathered seven children with his daughter, whom he imprisoned in the cellar beneath his home from the age of 18.

One died shortly after birth and three remained locked in the underground chamber with their mother.

Of the three who shared the family home with Mr Fritzl and his wife, one was legally adopted and the other two were fostered by the couple.

Ms Berger said she regretted reports that Mr Fritzl was able to become legally responsible for the care of the three children without the authorities fully investigating his criminal record.

"We wish however that this procedure had been followed even though these were adoptions by family members," she said.

Mr Fritzl was convicted of rape in 1967 and was sentenced to a term in prison. However, under Austrian law, this would have been regarded as a spent conviction.

Mr Fritzl is due to be interviewed by state prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser later on Wednesday.

The questioning will take place in the prison where the 73-year-old has been held since 29 April.

Officials say it is unclear whether Mr Fritzl will answer questions. He initially confessed to keeping his daughter captive and repeatedly raping her but has since remained silent.

(BBC)

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