Andina

Peru: Judiciary authorizes temporary handover of Joran van der Sloot to U.S.

Photo: ANDINA/Court of Lima/Archive

Photo: ANDINA/Court of Lima/Archive

09:00 | Lima, May. 11.

The Permanent Criminal Chamber of Peru's Supreme Court declared a request submitted by the United States Embassy admissible, exceptionally authorizing the temporary handover of imprisoned Dutch citizen Joran van der Sloot for prosecution in the North American country over the alleged crimes of extortion and fraud.

The information was reported via the Judiciary's official Twitter account on Wednesday evening.

Within this framework, the Judicial Branch specified that the requesting country must keep the defendant in custody throughout the proceedings to take place in its territory.

Likewise, the Judiciary indicated that once the criminal proceedings against the Dutchman have come to an end, he will immediately be returned to authorities in Peru.

Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Minister Daniel Maurate indicated that the Executive Branch had decided to agree to the request, submitted by U.S. authorities, for the temporary handover of Joran Van Der Sloot, for prosecution in the United States.

Van der Sloot —who is being held at Challapalca Prison in southern Tacna region— was in 2012 sentenced to 28 years behind bars for the murder of Peruvian citizen Stephany Flores in 2010.

He will be prosecuted in the United States for the alleged crimes of extortion and fraud against of Elizabeth Ann Holloway, mother of Natalee Ann Holloway, who disappeared in Aruba in May 2005.

Joran van der Sloot is the suspect in the disappearance of the young woman.

(END) RMCH/JCR/MVB

Published: 5/11/2023