ARUBAN AUTHORITIES IMPLICATE MAIN SUSPECTS IN NATALEE HOLLOW CASE

Within one week of Natalee Holloway's disappearance on Aruban soil under suspicious circumstance - there have been posts continually submitted to various internet message boards which depict an obvious agenda - an agenda to detract from the truth, and to obscure the real issue that a perceived corrupt investigation is distancing the main suspects from implication in the events encompassing the morning of May 30, 2005 while shifting the focus on the victim and her family. Recently, the same agenda has been mirrored in the Aruban, Dutch and American media.

The following sourced quotes will reveal the truth regarding the main suspects - Paulus, Joran, Deepak and Satish - through the words of those with a foundational inside knowledge of the Natalee Holloway investigation.


A. GEROLD DOMPIG - DEPUTY CHIEF COMMISSIONER

1. Gerold Dompig stated on American Television to Rita Cosby that based on Joran's lies he was convinced that Joran, Deepak and Satish were guilty of wrongdoing.

Gerold Dompig - 'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' - 11-08-05
DOMPIG: I still believe that these boys have been lying, they're still lying, and everybody knows that by now. So there's no doubt in my mind that they know something, they're guilty of something.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12187266/

2. Gerold Dompig conceded to Rita Cosby on American Television that he had stated that it was his belief that Joran, Deepak and Satish were guilty - guilty as Hell. He also believed they were involved in her disappearance.

Gerold Dompig - 'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' - 11-02-05
COSBY: Do you believe, Chief—you said to me even before this interview that you believe the boys are guilty as hell. Do you believe they‘re involved in her disappearance?
DOMPIG: Yes.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9910586/from/RL.3/

3. Gerold Dompig stated on American Television to Rita Cosby that none of Joran's statements could be believed because his decarations kept changing in regards to the events of the morning of May 30, 2005 when Natalee Holloway went missing.

Gerold Dompig - 'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' - 10-17-05
DOMPIG: .... Joran went back and forth with his statements, and he withdrew two statements which he had already given to us. So basically, none of his statements were really trustworthy. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9727957/

4. Gerold Dompig conveys to Dan Abrams on American Television that Joran cannot be believed as inconsistencies abound in his official declarations.

Gerold Dompig - THE ABRAMS REPORT - 10-12-05
DOMPIG: Well, it would take me, I think, a little over two days to go over all the inconsistencies. None of the stories match up, let me put it that way. So when it comes to believing this individual, we know in which category to place him.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9676188

5. The implications of Gerold Dompig's words to Dan Abrams on American Television are huge. He states that those within the investigation are of the opinion no other person than Joran, Deepak and Satish could be responsible for whatever happened to Natalee Holloway.

Gerold Dompig - THE ABRAMS REPORT - 10-12-05
DOMPIG: Exactly. And I go by the rule of thumb that, in the first 40 days -- as I said in a different program -- the first 40 days, law enforcement has probably also already spoken to the perpetrators. So we feel strongly that we have already spoken to them. And there's no one else outside this group that could be involved or responsible. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9676188/page/2/

6. On American television Gerold Dompig tells Dan Abrams that every direction the Natalee Holloway investigation takes - the outcome implicates Joran, Deepak and Satish.

Gerold Dompig - THE ABRAMS REPORT - 10-12-05
DOMPIG: So sometimes people will ask us that, "Are you not tunnel-visioned? Maybe you should look at other possibilities." Of course. We did that. But we still feel that, every time you go on a path, a different path, that path leads back, comes back to these three boys. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9676188/page/2/

7. In a released statement to the Associated Press - Gerold Dompig revealed that there was an admission by one of the suspects in regards to what happened to Natalee Holloway. Dompig stated that the suspect was leading authorities to the location where this happening occurred.

Gerold Dompig - Associated Press - 06-12-05
Deputy Police Commissioner, Gerold Dompig, told The Associated Press that one of three young men arrested in the case admitted "something bad Happened" to Holloway and was leading police to the scene. Prosecutors refused to comment on Dompig's statement, and Dompig himself refused to identify which of the three young men who took Holloway to the Northern beach the night she went missing made the statement. http://archive.seacoastonline.com/2005news/06122005/world/47255.htm

8. In the 48 Hours' interview with correspondent Troy Roberts - Gerold Dompig revealed that the investigation team was of the opinion that Joran, Deepak and Satish were all lying in regards to the Marriot Beach account of what took place on the morning when Natalee Holloway went missing.

Gerold Dompig - 48 HOURS - 03-22-06
Dompig laid out the latest scenario of what happened after Natalee was last seen driving off with van der Sloot and the Kalpoe brothers shortly after 1 a.m. He says investigators think the group did not go to the beach but that they possibly brought Natalie back to the van der Sloots' home. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/22/48hours/main1430644_page5.shtml

9. Dompig stated in interview with Bryan Burrough (Vanity Fair) that there is a possibility that something unfortunate may have happened when Joran lost his temper when Natalee resisted his advances.

Gerold Dompig - VANITY FAIR ARTICLE - 01-02-06
"The F.B.I. profiled him as a person who never has been corrected by his parents. He's the boss of what happens in that house. He's the boss in the family. He is allowed to do anything.… If a person like that is in a position where a person says, 'No,' well, that person may change completely. Maybe he blew a fuse when she wouldn't have sex with him, and something happened."
http://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2006/01/natalee200601?currentPage=9

10. Gerold Dompig stated to correspondent Troy Roberts in the 48 HOURS interview that Paulus was not being forthcoming regarding his knowledge of the morning that Natalee Holloway went missing.

Gerold Dompig - 48 HOURS - 03-22-06
Dompig says he believes Paulus Van der Sloot does know more than he has been telling about the circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/22/48hours/main1430644_page3.shtml

11. Gerold Dompig's words in the 48 HOURS interview with correspondent Troy Roberts imply that Paulus played an active role in concealing the remains of Natalee Holloway.

Gerold Dompig - 48 HOURS - 03-22-06
The Aruban authorities’ new theory is that someone, someone possibly very close to the young suspects, took the time to carefully hide the body, not once but maybe twice, literally re-burying her.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/22/48hours/main1430644_page4.shtml

12. Gerold Dompig's official position within ALE implies that he must have derived his words to Rita Cosby from a foundation of knowledge - Dompig states that Joran's dispicable actions towards the person of Natalee Holloway consititues a felony under Dutch law.

Gerold Dompig - 'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' - 10-17-05
DOMPIG: They only went so far as to say that they fondled sexually. At least, Joran did that, and the others denied everything.
COSBY: Chief, you know, that Joran was claiming in some statement that she was gong in and out of consciousness. Have you seen that anywhere?
DOMPIG: Yes, that's definitely in the statements, and that‘s why we were kind of disappointed when the judge didn‘t accept that because that‘s basically a felony in Aruba. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9727957/


B. STEVE COHEN - SPOKESPERSON FOR THE INVESTIGATION

1. Steve Cohen's function as spokesperson for the Aruban investigation into Natalee Holloway's disappearance was to proclaim the truth to the media - the truth that was derived from a foundation of knowledge.

Steve Cohen - The Strategic Communications Task Force - 12-7-05
Aruba Selects Spokesman For North America A coalition of groups announced Friday the appointment of Steve Cohen to act as spokesperson to North American media, in regards to the Natalee Holloway disappearance case. AHATA and the ATA appointed Cohen to deal with all media relations concerning the case which still commands media coverage in the United States. Mr. Cohen has been part of the Strategic Communications Task Force since its creation in June. He has a full knowledge of the case and is an associate of the Strategic Message Design. http://www.arubatruth.com/?p=17

2. In his address the Caribbean Marketplace that was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico - Steve Cohen reveals that two of the main suspects in the Natalee Holloway investigation had sexual relations with the eighteen year old American citizen. This is the position that Natalee's mother - Beth Holloway - has stood by since the initial stages of the investigation.

Steve Cohen - Caribbean Voice - 01-18-06
Aruba stays afloat through Natalie Holloway's investigation By Hazel Heyer SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico ... Aruba believes it is most important to get a hold of her mental state and most importantly, Natalee's physical state at the time of disappearance. "Two of the boys said they had consensual sex with her. Whether consensual or not, depends on her ability to be conscious and make a choice," said Cohen.
http://www.caribvoice.org/travel&tourism.html

3. Steve Cohen concedes to Phil McGraw that Joran, Deepak and Satish are guilty of wrongdoing and possess an indepth knowledge of events from the early morning hours of May 30, 2005.


Steve Cohen - Dr. Phil Show - 01-29-06
Steve explains, "Forensic materials continue to be collected. I think we've got our hands on some forensic material now that may actually open up the doors to the final results of this case." Dr. Phil asks him, "From your opinion, based on what you know, do you believe that these boys are guilty of wrongdoing here?" Steve says that he does. "Do the prosecutors believe they are guilty of wrongdoing?" Steve says that they do. "Do you believe that [the boys] have available, intimate knowledge of what happened to her that night?" Again, Steve confirms that he does. http://www.drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/3041/?id=?id=&slide=7&null=null

4. In December, 2006 - Steve Cohen informed Rita Cosby on American Television that it was the intention of Aruban officials to bring Joran, Deepak and Satish in for questioning regarding timelines and other descrepancies in their official declarations. However, the planned interrogations never took place. Joran's attorney reminded those in the investigation that the conditions of the September 2005 release - which had dictated that the suspects were to remain available for questioning - had been lifted by an Aruban court.

Steve Cohen - 'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' - 12-21-05
COHEN: I do want to make the distinction for you and your audience between questioning and rearrest. This is a questioning procedure that Chief Dompig is going to go through with them because as they‘ve analyzed the timeline, they‘ve found some other discrepancies and they want to review these discrepancies with the three suspects.
COSBY: Hey, Steve, what are those discrepancies exactly?
COHEN: Well, I think it‘s mostly timeline discrepancies, Rita. As you look at their testimony and their interrogations of where they were at different times between 1:30-something in the morning and between 3:30 in the morning, these are very important two or three-hour blocks that the investigators want to review in detail.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10572846/

5. Steve Cohen shared with Phil McGraw that he felt defeated while he escorted Joran, Deepak and Satish from jail following the ruling of the Aruban court.

Steve Cohen - Dr. Phil Show - 01-29-06
"I was the guy who had to let them out," says Steve. "I opened the jail door for all three of them. It was nobody else. It was me. And my feeling was that we had lost ..." http://www.drphil.com/slideshows/slideshow/3041/?id=1&slide=8&null=null


C. KARIN JANSSEN - PROSECUTOR

1. In a telephone interview - Karin Janssen stated that Paulus obstructed the investigation but that his detainment resulted from the suspicion that he was involved in Natalee's disappearance.

Karin Janssen - Associated Press - 07-01-20
Janssen also alleged Paul van der Sloot, a 52-year-old judge in training in Aruba, obstructed authorities' investigation by asking one of his son's friends, who had been interrogated, what he told police. But Janssen said Paul van der Sloot was detained for being a suspect in the disappearance, not for obstructing the investigation. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,161294,00.html

2. The Prosecutor's office released a statement upon the rearrest of the Kalpoe brothers. The new "facts/circumstances/suspicions" that comprised that statement implied that dispicable acts were perpetuated by Deepak and Satish against the person of Natalee Holloway prior to her subsequent demise. Also, Aruban Attorney and investigation spokesperson - Arlene Ellis-Schipper - publicly affirmed that the prosecutor must have "real, real evidence and new facts" to have arrested Deepak and Satish again.

Statement from Prosecutor's Office - CNN - 08-27-05
(CNN) -- After being detained and then released last month in Natalee Holloway's disappearance, two brothers were arrested again Friday in Aruba on suspicion they acted "together with other people" in raping and killing the Alabama teen, the prosecutor's office said. Without elaborating on the evidence, the office said in a statement that "new facts and circumstances" led them to re-arrest Satish Kalpoe, 18 and brother Deepak, 21. "They are suspected of the primary criminal act of together with other people committing premeditated murder, alternately together with other people murdering somebody, more alternately rob a person of her liberty with fatal consequences and even more alternately raping somebody," the statement said.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/08/26/aruba.arrests/index.html

Arlene Ellis-Schipper -On the Record w/Greta - August 30, 2006
ELLIS-SCHIPPER: Well, I think it's a big moment, Greta. You know, the prosecution and the investigation is moving very carefully. They don't want to make more mistakes, and they are very careful. So they must have had some real, real evidence and new facts that they felt confident enough to haul them back in. ... the investigation is moving forward and there's hope that we might go towards a trial because, at first, I was doubting whether we were even facing a trial. It shows that the police have done some good work and apparently gathered evidence, new evidence enough for to bring them back in custody.. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,167372,00.html

3. In a release to the Associated Press, Karin Janssen stated that various communication records were the foundation on which she was "centering" her case.

Karen Janssen - Associated Press - 07-02-05
Janssen said the prosecution was centering its case around e-mail and cell phone text messages written between the suspects the night Holloway disappeared. Janssen declined to offer further details about the messages, but said not having a body would make getting a murder conviction "more difficult but not impossible." http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050702/aruba.shtml

4. Under Aruban law there must be "serious" suspicion to warrant pre-trial detainment and suspect status. Inquiring minds would like to know what foundation the "serious" suspicions were drived from to warrant the pre-trial detainment of the suspects in the Natalee Holloway case.

Noraina Pietersz - Associated Press - 06-09-05
Under Aruban law, only serious suspicion from investigators — not solid evidence — is needed for a judge to rule that suspects can be held, Pietersz said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8079019/

Joran/Deepak/Satish/Steve/Croes/Paulus - FOX NEWS - 06/24/05
Joran van der Sloot (search) and his friends Deepak and Satish Kalpoe are being held under suspicion of murder and kidnapping as well as being an accessory to murder. A fourth man, party boat DJ Steve Croes, is being held under the same conditions. The fifth man, Paul van der Sloot (search) — the father of 17-year-old Joran — was being held on suspicion of complicity to pre-meditated murder, complicity to kidnapping and murder and kidnapping. Under the Aruban system, complicity is a lesser charge. None of the men have been charged with a crime, but all are in police custody. An Aruban government spokesman confirmed the allegations. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160654,00.html


D. ROLAND TROMP - POLICE INTERROGATOR

Roland Tromp - Paulus' interrogator - stated to the Associated press that those within the investigation believe Joran is the prime suspect in regards to what happened to Natalee Holloway. They also contend that Paulus assisted his son after something went tragically wrong that fateful morning.

Roy Tromp - CBS NEWS - 08-05-05
Tromp said investigators believe van der Sloot, who turns 18 on Saturday, is the prime suspect and that he had some assistance from his father, Paul, an apprentice judge on the island. "We believe something went wrong with the girl, and the first person you are going to call is your daddy," said Tromp. "In this case, daddy would know exactly what to do." Tromp, who declined to provide details about exactly what investigators believe happened to Holloway, said that Paul van der Sloot has also changed his account the night Holloway vanished. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/05/world/main763210_page2.shtml


E. SPOKESPERSON - THE ARUBAN JUSTICE MINISTRY

An Aruban Ministry of Justice Spokesperson informed FOX NEWS that Natalee had been confirmed dead and the location of her body was known.

Aruban Ministry of Justice Spokesperson - FOX NEWS - 06-11-05
David Cruz, a spokesman for the Aruban Minister of Justice (search) told FOX News Natalee Holloway (search), who was on vacation with friends with a graduation trip when she disappeared, was confirmed dead and that authorities knew the location of her body. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159252,00.html

Rick Leventhal - FOX NEWS - 06-15-05
The next day, another official spoke to one of our producers. Edward Croues, a spokesman for the minister of justice, told Craig Rivera he had "official information" that Natalee was "confirmed dead," and told Craig her father had asked police to take him to the body and to do it before the press found out where it was. We reconfirmed the information with Croues before going on-air with it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159664,00.html


F. SUPERIOR COURT

When Karin Janssen appealed the compensation which was awarded to Paulus for wrongful detainment - the Superior Court's ruling sided with the proscutor. It ruled that - according to tapped information and Paulus' own declaration - Paulus' detention could be considered justified.


Superior Court - Diario - 02-14-2007
The whole case of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway gets a different twist now that the information has come out from no less than the Superior Court, and in which mention is made of the declarations of witnesses and a phone tap that show or give an indication that Paul van der Sloot had on two occasions personal contact with Natalee during the night that she disappeared. Mention is made that, according to one or more official reports of the phone tap and also the declaration of Paul van der Sloot himself, that Paul fetched Joran and Natalee at McDonald and took them to the Holiday Inn. Based on this information, the judicial authorities and the police had at that time a justified basis to arrest Paul van der Sloot based on different suspicions. (Translation Credit: Diario)
http://www.diario-aruba.com/2007/2/14/


G. DIANE EMERENCIA - ARUBAN ATTORNEY

Diane Emerencia - Freddy Zedan-Arambatzis’ attorney - revealed that Joran, Deepak and Satish are under suspicion of involvement in a previous sexual assault which occurred prior to the disappearance of Natalee Hollowy.

Diana Emerencia - Associated Press - 08/31/05
Zedan-Arambatzis, 21, is also suspected of photographing the girl in "tempting poses" and showing the images to other people, Emerencia said. The Kalpoe brothers and van der Sloot are also suspected of involvement in the incidents, which allegedly occurred before Holloway disappeared, she said. Emerencia said Zedan-Arambatzis has denied having any physical contact with the girl or taking photos of her, but has admitted to being present when the photos were taken.
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/050831/aruba.shtm


H. DOUG SHIPLEY - FBI

On June 10, 2005 one of the FBI agents who was on Aruba was informed that Natalee Holloway may no longer be alive and he passed that devasting news on to the family.

Doug Shipley - 'Scarborough Country' - 07-12-05
TWITTY: And that was the day that the FBI came in, Doug Shipley (ph) came in and said that the way the interrogations are unfolding, there‘s a strong possibility that Natalee may not be alive. That was huge. That was the day that—I think, Joe, everyone buried Natalee that day, on June 10.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9813596/


I. UNITED STATES REP. SPENCER BACHUS

What information was Spencer Bachus and the family privy to on June 5, 2005 that convinced them that the circumstances encompassing the disappearance of Natalee Holloway warranted FBI involvement?

Spencer Bachus - The Birmingham News - 06-05-05
U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved. He declined to give details. "The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off." http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/111796344124200.xml&coll=2

In conclusion, the following statement from former Aruban police commissioner Stanley Zaandam lets us know there were questionable actions from within Aruban law enforcement that possibly began the wide spread collusion by Aruban officials to protect their own. This collusion included public Aruban figures, such as those who recently gave interviews to an Aruban newspaper – once again denigrating the family of this victim, and utilizing a public platform in an attempt to shift the focus of blame in this case.


Ex-commissioner Stanley Zaandam Bon Dia Aruba 9/19/2005
Zaandam keeps on saying in his book, two days after 5/29, the body of Natalee H. may have already been found and Cvp [police commissioner] looked the other way to do a favour for Paul vd Sloot (ex of chief staff of Cabinet PG [prosecutor general] J. Zwinkels). To exculpate the son of Paul, the CvP and fiscal chief prosecutor Karen Jansen made the false arrest of two ex-security guards, Jones and John , called this a ‘tactical maneuver’ , and denied them their freedom for another 10 days.

Natalee and her family deserve justice, and we will not let up until they have it!
Natalee’s Freebirds

RICK SMID- ARUBA’S DIRTIEST JUDGE

Many of the judicial rulings by the Dutch judges in the Natalee Holloway case have been highly questionable, some so openly biased in favor of the Van der Sloot family they smack of corruption. For instance, when a search warrant was being executed on the Van Der Sloot home on June 15, 2005 investigators were surprised to find Curacao Judge Bob Wit open the door and inform them their search would not include the main Van Der Sloot residence or the surrounding property.

Eight days later when Joran’s father Paulus Van Der Sloot was arrested for "reasonable suspicion" in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway Judge Bob Wit intervened again, disallowing a search of the Van Der Sloot home. Ironically, no such limitations were ever placed on the search of the homes of two black security guards who were arrested on June 5, 2005. In fact, Aruban police ransacked their homes and perp walked them in front of the media, only later having to release them because there was no evidence that, unlike Joran Van Der Sloot and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, they had ever been in contact with Natalee Holloway.

Since when do suspects in a murder investigation get a free pass from having their house searched? Prior to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway it is well known that Paulus Van Der Sloot had been a Dutch judge in training. Did his connections to the judiciary in Aruba and nearby Curacao have any influence on these rulings by Judge Bob Wit?

Judge Bob Wit's early decisions in the Natalee Holloway case would start a chain reaction of pro-Dutch, anti-victim rulings that would eventually free the Van Der Sloots from facing criminal charges.

JUDGE RICK SMID, ARUBA’S DIRTIEST JUDGE, IGNORES INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE AGAINST THE MAIN SUSPECTS

“Aruba’s Dirtiest Judge” honor, however, goes to Dutch Judge Rick Smid for his extremely questionable rulings in the Natalee Holloway case. This one judge has caused as much damage to the Holloway case being solved as is humanly possible. IT WAS RICK SMID WHO SET THE STAGE FOR JORAN VAN DER SLOOT TO FLEE THE ISLAND OF ARUBA.

Police statements from Joran and the Kalpoe brothers—the last people to be seen with Natalee Holloway-- have revealed many disparities in their accounts of what happened that night she disappeared. In a secretly recorded conversation in a police van on June 25, 2005 the three suspects engaged in heated arguments about who was responsible for Nataleee’s demise, implicating not only each other but Joran’s father Paulus.

It is clear from these tapes and other statements the suspects gave to police, that the three suspects had detailed and intimate knowledge that something bad had happened to Miss Holloway. Joran even described the victim’s undergarments in great detail. Judge Rick Smid chose to completely ignore the fact that the main suspects were telling different accounts of what happened to Natalee that night. Why did judge Smid ignore such glaring and obvious contradictions in the stories of the three suspects? Even the simplest of minds would know that some of the parties were telling lies, indicating a clear measure of guilt.

JOSSY MANSUR, EDITOR DIARIO ARUBA
Monday, November 21, 2005

No one has accused them of murder, but they themselves admitted to police during interrogations that something bad happened to Natalee while she was with them, without specifying what ‘something bad’ was! That they admitted to committing sexual abuse against her.

It is not extensive that the judge who presided over the case and decided that some things were inadmissible. He could be the best judge in the world, but in this case, he made light of and greatly neglected to pay attention to the three suspects’ admissions, since he didn’t even interrogate them about what was left hanging in the air, such as the declaration of Joran at the beach that he believes that Deepak raped and killed Natalee! How did this matter end there? How were the other accusations and counter-accusations among the three suspects not evaluated for their just content?

RICK SMID SHIELDS THE SUSPECTS FROM FURTHER TESTIMONY AND ALLOWS THE MAIN SUSPECT TO FLEE THE ISLAND

Judge Rick Smid was very aware of the discrepancies and inconsistencies in Joran Van der Sloot’s and the Kalpoe’s stories when he made several of his rulings in the case. Judge Smid was also aware Joran had lied about dropping off Natalee Holloway off at the Holiday Inn and had told four differing and contradictory stories as to how he got home that night. The Kalpoe brothers to this day disagree with Joran Van der Sloot on how he got home early that morning.

In an Aruban court on August 30, 2005 Judge Rick Smid ruled there was enough evidence that Joran Van Der Sloot should be held in police custody another 30 days. Then Judge Smid does something very unusual. He returns to his office in Curacao and faxes in a reversal of his ruling only hours later. Citing an obscure Dutch case dubbed the “Ponson Rule”, Judge Smid ruled that Joran’s schoolwork was more important than the case of a missing, and most likely, murdered, tourist. It should be noted the Ponson Rule was originally instituted for a baseball player who was involved in a case nowhere near as serious as murder.

As a direct result of Judge Rick Smid's ruling, Joran Van Der Sloot (to this day the main suspect in Natalee Holloway’s disappearance) was released from police custody on September 3, 2005 and immediately fled the island of Aruba to the safety of Holland three days later.

Less than two weeks later three Dutch Superior Court judges in Curacao delivered their final coup de grace. On September 14, 2005, in a ruling by three Dutch judges from Curacao, Joran Van Der Sloot and the Kalpoes brothers were all released unconditionally. This order prevented law enforcement from taking any further testimony from the three suspects in the Natalee Holloway case - despite the fact their accounts of what happened the night Natalee Holloway disappeared in their company are drastically different. Why would these three judges release the three main suspects from giving further testimony when those same judges knew full well the suspects lied to police, with conflicting stories from one suspect to the next?

Rogue Judge Rick Smid's rulings would be a devastating blow to the Natalee Holloway case. When Aruba spokesperson Steve Cohen promised the American public the three suspects would be brought back in for questioning in December 2005, it was revealed they would never have to testify again. All of this as a result of Judge Rick Smid's abuse of his position on the bench.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
September 1, 2005

The judge in the case issued two rulings: In the first, he agreed with prosecutors' request to extend the period of van der Sloot's pretrial detention by 30 more days.

But later Thursday, the judge issued another ruling that sided with the defense — an order to immediately suspend the execution of his earlier pretrial detention order. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9163292/


BETH TWITTY ON NANCY GRACE
September 13, 2005

GRACE: What was the grounds? Why did they release them?

TWITTY: You know, Nancy, there was absolutely no -- no grounds for them to be released. And I spoke with the Dutch interrogators. And even as of September the 1st, things were really progressing well, and Joran and Deepak and Satish, they had -- these young men had divided, and they were not denying a crime anymore. They were merely implicating each other. And the list of inconsistencies was presented before Judge Smit. The reasonable doubt was there. I don`t have any idea why he fled the island and then faxed a reversal decision. It just is incredible. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/13/ng.01.html


JOSSY MANSUR, EDITOR DIARIO ARUBA
Monday, October 1, 2005

Did the judge who came from Curacao probably plan take the decisions he took, spoiled the case? With all due respect for the position you have taken, have you seen what happened?

The case was resolved in phases the same judge planned: first release Paul v.d. Sloot , then he came back to release the Kalpoe brothers and the third phase he executed now when came to set Joran free because Joran expressed his wish to continue his studies.

I have similarly not made any accusations of any sort against the Kalpoe brothers; what I have repeated is what can be found in the Polis reports where they started pointing the fingers one against the other! It is in these three phases here that Americans see the corruption of our justice system.


THE DUTCH JUDGES ARE PART OF THE ARUBA "GOOD OLE BOY" NETWORK THAT PROTECTS THEIR OWN

The Aruban government and law enforcement are riddled with good ole boy friendships that usurp their ability to exact justice when one of their own is involved in a crime. It has been rumored that Judge Rick Smid was a close personal friend of Paulus Van Der Sloot and had stayed in his residence on occasion during his visits to Aruba. Judging by his rulings, this would seem to be the case.

Jossy Mansur points out that the Dutch judges were in collusion all along in an editorial that ran in his newspaper, El Diario Aruba. Given such a biased series of rulings in the Natalee Holloway case it is hard not to believe these judges all worked in unison to deny justice to the American victim in favor of saving their fellow Dutch nationalists' from facing their crimes in a court of law.

To this day Joran Van Der Sloot is considered the main suspect in the Natalee Holloway case, and his father Paulus was recently denied compensation when it was revealed through a wiretapped conversation he had met Natalee Holloway the same day she disappeared – not once, but twice. It is well known that Paulus Van Der Sloot is suspected of covering up his son's criminal acts against Natalee Holloway and some believe he had direct involvement in her demise. His lies in police statements concerning his whereabouts the night Holloway disappeared, in addition to stating he had never met Holloway, exposed in court, serve to reinforce such suspicions.

But yet the Dutch have chosen to do nothing in the case even though it is well proven all of the suspects lied as both witnesses and suspects, and thanks to the Dutch judges' orders they will not have to face questioning again.


EDITOR JOSSY MANSUR OF DIARIO NEWSPAPER ON NANCY GRACE
October 4, 2005

GRACE: … Jossy, regarding the connection, what I perceived to be a close connection between the judge, Paulus Van Der Sloot and the retired chief of police who initially handled Natalee`s case, Van Der Stratten, were they friends?

MANSUR: Of course, they were friends. It stands to reason they were friends because Paul Van Der Sloot had many friends within the police department; he had many friends within the Department of Justice. And he had many friends with -- and he was friendly with all the judges in Aruba. He worked out of the same office as they did and did the same work. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/04/ng.01.html


RICK SMID'S HISTORY OF LENIENCE ON CRIMINALS RAISES QUESTIONS OF HIS INTEGRITY AND ABILITY TO SERVE AS A JUDGE. IF RICK SMID WILL DO THIS FOR NON-DUTCH CRIMINALS, IMAGINE WHAT HE WILL DO FOR HIS DUTCH FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS

Rick Smid refuses to have human traffickers and drug dealers arrested:

PHILIPSBURG - Two men considered to be the local organisers of what the Prosecutor’s Office believes to be a Chinese-led human smuggling operation are facing six- and eight-year prison sentences. They were also accused Thursday of involvement in the drug trade, mainly cocaine.

The Prosecutor further requested the immediate arrest of both suspects, who had been released from pre-trial detention in April, but this was turned down by Judge Rick Smid. http://news.caribseek.com/Sint_Maarten/The_Daily_Herald/article_50851.shtml
Posted: Jun 15, 2007 20:05 UTC


Rick Smid gives human trafficker 38 days in jail:

PHILIPSBURG--While investigations are ongoing into the alleged involvement of a police commissioner in human trafficking, a 28-year-old man was found guilty by the Court of First Instance on Wednesday of having tried to bribe Chief Immigration Officer Ademar Doran.

Judge Rick Smid sentenced Stephen Bruney to 180 days, 142 of which to be suspended, with three years’ probation and 200 hours of community service. http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k024/bribe024.html


IN COWARDLY FASHION, SMID RELEASES THE SUSPECTS UNDER THE MEDIA BLUR OF HURRICANE KATRINA

Had Hurricane Katrina not taken the spotlight off of Aruba, Judge Smid may have reconsidered his ruling. Instead it seems he found the catastrophe the perfect time to make such a bold and suspicious judgment. While American eyes were turned to the Gulf Coast of the U.S., Rick Smid took full advantage to free Joran van der Sloot and allow this suspect’s flight to Holland.

Smid takes advantage of a catastrophe to deal his own damage:

NANCY GRACE
September 13, 2005

BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY`S MOTHER: Well, you know, Nancy, I was thinking, I knew there was corruption and cover-up involved. But I certainly didn`t know they were cowards either, and to hide beneath the cloak of Hurricane Katrina is just reprehensible. And you know, I think -- I think of the Dutch government, and I want to keep the focus on this political party in place, NEP (ph). I think of this judge, Rick Smit. And I can`t imagine putting the suspects` rights or the suspects, you know, before the victim of Natalee, and that why should he choose to be concerned about Joran attending university in The Hague? It just is unbelievable.

GRACE: What was the grounds? Why did they release them?

TWITTY: You know, Nancy, there was absolutely no -- no grounds for them to be released. And I spoke with the Dutch interrogators. And even as of September the 1st, things were really progressing well, and Joran and Deepak and Satish, they had -- these young men had divided, and they were not denying a crime anymore. They were merely implicating each other. And the list of inconsistencies was presented before Judge Smit. The reasonable doubt was there. I don`t have any idea why he fled the island and then faxed a reversal decision. It just is incredible. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/13/ng.01.html


QUESTIONS ABOUT RICK SMID AND HIS FELLOW JUDGE BOB WIT:


*Why would a judge block the search of the home belonging to a suspect in a murder investigation? Was this because Paulus Van Der Sloot was a Dutch judge in training? If not, why were the two black security guards not given the same consideration days earlier when their homes were ransacked by investigators and police?

*Why would Judge Rick Smid rule a suspect be held in custody for another 30 days and reverse his own ruling within hours after he had fled the island of Aruba to his office in Curacao? Was he afraid he might have to explain his ruling to the media while he was still on the island of Aruba? What was Judge Smid afraid of? Why the deception?

*Why did Judge Rick Smid overlook incriminating testimony by a suspect and release him by citing his “schoolwork” as being the more important factor in the case? Since when does a suspect’s "schoolwork" take precedence over finding justice for a murdered tourist? Is it because Joran Van der Sloot is Dutch and Natalee Holloway is merely a missing victim?

*What kind of judge can look at basic, rudimentary statements with conflicting testimonies from three suspects and release them from further questioning by the authorities?

*Why have all these Dutch judges made such favorable rulings in favor of Joran Van Der Sloot, shielding him from further legal action when, in fact, he is the main suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway? Joran Van Der Sloot, who has been diagnosed by both Dutch and U.S. investigators as a "pathological liar", remains free today as a result of such obviously biased rulings.

*What kind of judicial system places favoritism over justice through the use of ambiguous rulings in favor of suspected criminals? The judges from Curacao, including Rick Smid, have given the Dutch judicial system a black eye worldwide.

"And he (Paulus Van der Sloot) was friendly with all the judges in Aruba. He worked out of the same office as they did and did the same work."

Jossy Mansur


Natalee and her family deserve justice, and we will not let up until they have it!
Natalee's Freebirds

Aruba Accuses US Government of Interference

Aruba says the United States Government interfered with their investigation…………What is the Truth?


YOU BE THE JUDGE

It was quickly discovered by the family of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway that Aruban officials had arrested two innocent men in the early days of their investigation.

That fact was just as quickly broadcast over American airwaves, and the American public was baffled at the news.

That was simply the first questionable action undertaken by Aruba that was brought to the public’s attention, but it certainly wasn’t the last.

Since then, we have learned about evidence that was mishandled, thrown away, or that has simply disappeared once in the hands of Aruban investigators.

We’ve also learned how Aruba soft-balled the interrogations of the actual suspects in this case, and of highly questionable rulings by the judiciary involved.

These instances, combined with several others, eventually brought many to believe there were some less than honest people handling this case on Aruba.

Recently, two Aruban spokespeople, Julia Renfro and Gerold Dompig, gave interviews to a local Aruban newspaper, openly, and we believe falsely, accusing the United States Government of causing the problems in the Aruban investigation – up to and including US Vice President Dick Cheney.

We have also learned that an Aruban delegation in Miami who met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the first week of June attempted to convince her they were making good progress in this case, right after they falsely arrested the two innocent men on June 5, 2005.

Was it not enough that Aruban spokespeople have denigrated Natalee and her family for the past two years?

Was it not enough that Aruban officials failed to conduct a proper investigation into this matter?

Apparently not.

Now for some unfathomable reason, they are casting the blame and attacking the integrity of the United States Government.

Is protecting their tourism really this important?

Or is there something bigger at stake for Aruba that they are desperately trying to keep hidden?

1. Aruba accuses Condoleezza Rice of interfering in their investigation

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with an Aruban delegation the night of June 5, 2005. That date is a notorious one within the case of missing Alabama teen Natalee Holloway.

June 5, 2005 was the date Aruban officials arrested two innocent, framed, black security guards for the disappearance of Ms Holloway.

June 9, 2005 -
Associated Press Authorities in the Dutch Caribbean island can hold 30-year-old Nick John and 28-year-old Abraham Jones without filing formal charges for up to 116 days The pair were arrested Sunday on suspicion of first- and second-degree murder and capital kidnapping, the latter of which is invoked when kidnapping victim is killed. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8079019/

Four days prior to that arrest, Aruban law enforcement and the prosecutor's office knew those two innocent men were nowhere near the Holiday Inn the night/morning of May 29/30th...........as they also knew neither was Natalee Holloway. Video surveillance footage viewed by them on June 1 2005 proved that tale to be false.

Yet by June 3, 2005 Aruban officials were setting up the security guards for a fraudulent arrest.

NANCY GRACE INTERVIEW JUNE 3, 2005
"SANCHEZ: I was monitoring a conversation not long ago with a lieutenant who is in charge of one of the investigations there in Aruba. And he said, and I’m going to quote him now, that he expected there could be arrests soon. And then he said that they expected to have some more news tomorrow."
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/03/ng.01.html

Two days later, those arrests took place, and that same night Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber proceeded to lead his delegation in Florida with this tall tale to our own United States Secretary of State – Condoleezza Rice.

June 6th - In spite of these fraudulent arrests with no evidence, Judy Hassell had a massive search re-directed to a part of the island these guards resided in, and Aruban government employees were let off for the day to help.

June 6, 2005
The initial search idea called for an island wide effort, but later changed to focus on the southeastern area of Seroe Colorado and part of San Nicolas, police commander Judy Hassell said. San Nicolas is where the two charged men were arrested. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/06/national/main699807.shtml

Aruban spokesperson Julia Renfro stated on July 3, 2007 that Ms Rice interfered with the Aruban investigation to local Aruban newspaper Amigoe.

Did a US official interfere into Aruba’s “investigation”? Or was she deliberately deceived by the Aruban delegation in an effort to have her withdraw her support and concern from this case?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Interview With Juan Carlos Lopez of CNN Espanol

Secretary Condoleezza
Rice Fort Lauderdale, Florida
June 6, 2005

QUESTION: Have you received any update on the case of Natalee Holloway in Aruba?

SECRETARY RICE: We are in constant contact. And I was able to thank the Aruban delegation here last night for the very good efforts that they are making. It's obviously a case about which we're very concerned and we're all watching and working and also praying that this will come out all right.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/47289.htm

What does this say about the knowledge of Aruban officals knowing the basis for these arrests was false? And yet they proceeded to expound this frame job? All the while lying to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – after having arrested these innocent men, they proceeded to tell her they were making progress.

2. Aruba accuses the United States FBI of interfering in the Aruban investigation

Aruban Prosecutor
Authorities on the Dutch Caribbean island requested a special FBI diving team to search waters with rough currents, Aruba Attorney General Caren Janssen said. http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,158666,00.html

FBI Spokesperson
Seven FBI agents from Miami are in Aruba, including two divers and evidence collection and analysis experts, and one agent has come from Barbados, the spokesman said. http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas...7/missing.teen/

Senator Spencer Bachus
U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said Saturday there were circumstances surrounding Holloway's disappearance that warranted the FBI being heavily involved. He declined to give details. "The circumstances were disturbing," said Bachus, who formally requested the FBI's involvement. "I can't get into it, but it's something the family is aware of. There was an immediate recognition that this was not simply a teen who wandered off." http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde...4200.xml&coll=2

The first week of June 2005 brought an FBI diving team from the USA to Aruba, as per what appeared to be a "welcome" given by Aruban authorities to allow the FBI to participate in the "search" that Aruban officials felt was key in their investigation.

FBI spokesperson Judy Orihuela lets us know that the invitations and welcome Aruban officials extended to our FBI dive and search teams were merely a charade, as once they arrived on the island they were sidelined by local officials to merely roles of observers and advisors.

FBI Spokesperson
Aruban authorities also appealed for the FBI to send expert divers. The U.S. agency sent two search-and-rescue divers, but they never got in the water.

"They never had any information like: she could be in this place or that area," FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said. "That target would have come from the investigation of Aruban authorities because we can't investigate in a foreign country."

The decision not to dive was "bizarre," said Joe Huston, a rescue diver with Dickinson-based Texas EquuSearch. The volunteer group began a new search in Aruba on Saturday that included divers and sonar equipment. "If her body was put in the ocean, there's a good chance now she'll never be found," Huston said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,160701,00.html

June 9, 2005 FBI dive team has left the island, http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/09/missing.teen/index.html

Were our FBI personnel being strung along by Aruban officials as they were merely puppets in Aruba’s charade of cooperation and transparency for public consumption?

It seems our FBI grew wise to the farce early on in this case.

Former Aruban Chief Gerold Dompig tells Aruban newspaper Amigoe on July 3, 2007 that not only were the FBI interfering in Aruba's investigation, but that they also issued threats to law enforcement and Aruba's prosecuting office.

"The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has systematically hindered the work of the police and the judiciary on Aruba in the investigation of the missing student Natalee Holloway.

“Myself and also the field officer of the justice department on Aruba (at that time the European-Dutch Karin Janssen ) not only had to deal with the enormous pressure from the FBI, who arrived on the island in no time, but we were also obstructed and even threatened.” http://www.nu.nl/news/1139105/22/

Did our government officials interfere in the Aruban investigation into the disappearance of Natalee Holloway?

Or is the United States government once again being used as pawns in what will no doubt become another failed attempt to detract from the facts of this case?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Natalee and her family deserve justice, and we will not let up until they have it!
Natalee’s Freebirds

THE IMPOSSIBLE TIMELINE

May 31, 2005


What events were taking place under the cover of darkness in the early morning hours of May 31, 2005? Something important enough for the 3 main suspects in Natalee Holloway's disappearance to have contrived a false timeline.

Steve Cohen - Investigation Spokesperson
COHEN: This is a questioning procedure that Chief Dompig is going to go through with them because as they‘ve analyzed the timeline, they‘ve found some other discrepancies and they want to review these discrepancies with the three suspects.
COSBY: Steve, what are those discrepancies exactly?
COHEN: Well, I think it‘s mostly timeline discrepancies ...
'Rita Cosby Live & Direct' - 12-21-05

Roland/Roy Tromp - Interrogator/Lead Investigator
Roland Tromp, who declined to provide details about exactly what investigators believe happened to Holloway, said that Paul van der Sloot has also changed his account the night Holloway vanished.
"Why should you do that if you are telling the truth?" he said.
CBS NEWS - 08-05-05


In December, 2005, it was the intentions of Gerold Dompig to bring Joran, Deepak and Satish in for questioning. Discrepancies within their declarations in regards to timelines required clarification. When all was said and done, the questioning of the main suspects never happened. Dompig failed to take into consideration that within days of the main suspects' release from detainment, the judge reversed the condition of the release which required Joran, Deepak and Satish to remain available for further questioning.

In November, 2005, it had been ruled in an Aruban court that Paulus Van der Sloot was no longer a suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The implication of that ruling was that further questioning by interrogators in regards to timeline discrepancies was never a consideration.

MAY 31, 2005 - PAULUS, JORAN AND DEEPAK

1. Paulus van der Sloot 2:00 AM

May 31, 2005 Paulus' delaration of June 23, 2005 states that he is awaken by the Twitty group's arrival.

2. Joran van der Sloot 2:30 AM

May 31, 2005 Joran's declaration of June 14, 2005 states that Paulus calls him in the Wyndham parking lot.

3. Deepak Kalpoe 2:40 AM

May 31, 2005 Deepak's declaration of June 13, 2005 states that he and Joran arrive at the van der sloot residence after receiving Paulus' call.

++++++++++++++++


MAY 31, 2005 - THE TWITTY GROUP

1. Aruban Case file log 2:50 AM

According to the official witness log that was obtained through disclosure by Phil McGraw, the Twitty group gives a statement to police prior to going to the van der Sloot residence.

KALPOE V. MCGRAW, ET AL.
Name: Holloway Group and MR Stamper Date: 31 may 2005 / 02:50
Pages: 3 Writer/Initiator. Robert Kock / Lindo Pantophlet / Eric Ras
Description: witness statement

2. Jug Twitty 3:00 AM

Jug Twitty conveys to Nancy Grace to Nancy Grace on October 3, 2005 the time that that the group arrived at the van der Sloots Residence.

3. Charles Croes 3:00 AM

Charles Croes, who was part of the group, tells Greta Van Susteren on June 30, 2005 that he went straight to van der Sloot residence after leaving the police station.

4. Jug Twitty 3:15 AM

Jug Twitty conveys to Nancy Grace on October 3, 2005 that it took approximately fifteen minutes for Paulus to emerge from the house following the groups arrival.

5. Jug Twitty 3:30 AM

Jug Twitty states to Nancy Grace on October 3, 2005 that the group leaves for the Wyndham Casino after Paulus speaks to Joran on a cell phone.

++++++++++++++


In conclusion, a collaboration must have taken place when statements were taken by the Aruban Law Enforcement. Paulus, Joran and Deepak could not have pulled their respective timelines - outright lies - out of thin air and have them all syncronize perfectly.

Why was there a collaboration to change the actual timeline back one hour in regards to the events of the morning of May 31, 2005?

Natalee and her family deserve justice, and we will not let up until they have it!
Natalee’s Freebirds