Peruvian Judge Affirms Extradition to US of Chief Suspect in Natalee Holloway Disappearance
LIMA, Peru—A Peruvian judge on Tuesday affirmed this week’s planned extradition to the U.S. of the main suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of American student Natalee Holloway.
The judge’s ruling came less than 24 hours after the attorney for Dutchman Joran van der Sloot filed a writ of habeas corpus in an attempt to stop the custody transfer. Magistrate Elmer Morales informed the suspect of his decision in writing.
Law enforcement authorities scheduled the extradition for Thursday.
Van der Sloot’s attorney, Máximo Altez, filed the challenge Monday after his client changed his mind and decided to fight the government’s decision to send him to the U.S. to be prosecuted on wire fraud and extortion charges….