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Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dirty

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Sat Aug 27, 2005 at 07:35:48 PM EST
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I stopped writing about the case of Natalee Holloway a long time ago. There was no news and it finally seemed like all but the Holloway family was ready to move on. But now the cable news stations are back to almost full-time Holloway coverage. And not one show I've seen states what I think is the obvious: Aruba has learned how to play dirty, most likely courtesy of our FBI, with whom the Aruban authorities began sharing investigation files last month.

The "news" in the case is not news at all. There's no big break. All that happened was the Kalpoe brothers were re-arrested yesterday on suspicion of other charges . They can be held and interrogated anew for eight days.

Here's what I think happened. Time is running out on keeping Joran van der Sloot detained. The 116 days he can be detained without charges under Aruban law expires in early September. The authorities ran out of leads long ago and none of the suspects have cracked - despite untold hours of interrogation and harsh detention conditions. So, out of leads and short on time, the Aruban authorities decided to turn up the heat on the Kalpoe brothers. They dug and dug until they believed they had enough to link the brothers to crimes totally unrelated to Natalee.

Then, they hauled the brothers in and gave them a choice: Give us Joran or we'll throw the book at you on these other crimes. Crimes they never would have been investigated for or charged with, but for the need to "solve" the Holloway crime by bringing a prosecutable case against Joran.

The Holloway family wants to believe that the re-arrest of the Kalpoe brothers is a big break in the case. Who can blame them? But if the Kalpoe brothers tag Joran now, when they didn't before, it's because of new crimes hanging over their heads, not new information about Natalee - and their word under such circumstances is no better than purchased testimony. Testimony bought with promises of leniency in unrelated cases. It's suspect testimony, it's not credible and it's morally bankrupt. And I'd bet it was U.S. law enforcement that taught Aruba how to do it.

There's no break in the case. Aruba is no closer to finding Natalee Holloway. This is about finding the breaking point of the Kalpoe brothers and bringing a prosecution against Joran - so Aruba can get rid of the Holloways, and out from under the international spotlight.

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    Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dirty | 6 comments (6 topical)
    Re: Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dir (none / 0) (#1)
    by cpinva on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:50 PM EST
    yep, that's pretty much what i thought too. had they actual "new" evidence about ms. holloway's disappearance, i submit they would have provided details in a press conference. they have nothing now, had nothing before, and don't seem destined to have anything in the near future. while i certainly sympathize with her parents, this smacks of gestapo tactics, not justice.

    Re: Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dir (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:50 PM EST
    So, it's only our FBI that can play dirty and they are the only people that the Arubans can learn from? -C

    Re: Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dir (none / 0) (#3)
    by cpinva on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:50 PM EST
    So, it's only our FBI that can play dirty and they are the only people that the Arubans can learn from?
    no cliff, it isn't, but as far as i know, the kgb is defunct, and it's only our fbi that the aruban law enforcement people have been consulting with. if you have facts to the contrary, please share them with the class. geez, can't you do any better than this? you're going to give trolls a bad name.

    Re: Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dir (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:50 PM EST
    The authoritiies are obviously completely convinced that these youngsters are involved?Its been a long time with the same suspects?

    Re: Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dir (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:51 PM EST
    what ever works works for me I do think water torture would work better however.

    Re: Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dir (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    The Arubans have also been working with Dutch police; not just the FBI. When we state that the police "have nothing", we assume that we know everything that is going on. Weren't the Arubans also talking to the Dutch Marines? I know lefties always see a law enforcement conspiracy, but now they want to export this paranoia. Is it playing dirty to want to hold murder suspects who are from another country?

    Natalee Holloway: Aruba Learns How to Play Dirty | 6 comments (6 topical)