Contrary to earlier press releases no decision is to be expected on the issue of pretrial detention of J.v.d.S. for today.

Today the Court of Appeal has notified the Office of the Public Prosecutor that the defense lawyer of J.v.d.S will have the opportunity till coming Wednesday, February 13, 2008 to file his objections against a possible reversal of the initial decision by the investigating judge of February 1, not to order re-detention of the suspect. The Office has appealed that decision. The Court will decide by the end of this week.

Before that decision has been announced no further information will be available from the Office.

The public prosecutors office can be reached on 00 297 5928481 (between 08.00 a.m. and 06.00 p.m); during the weekend between 09.00 a.m. tot 11.00 a.m)

J. v.d. S., who was detained on Wednesday November 21, on the suspicion of manslaughter against Natalee Holloway, was brought before a judge of instruction to be heard on the judge's detention order. Simultaneously he was heard on the Public Prosecutor's request to prolong his detention with another eight days.

The judge has heard V.d. S., who was represented by his lawyer, and decided that his detention could be prolonged for eight more days, counting from Thursday 29th November. V.d. S.'s lawyer opposed his client's arrest, his subsequent custody and the prolongation of that custody. He asked for the immediate release of his client which was denied by the judge.

The Public Prosecutor's Office considers the judge's decision a support for its own thesis that sufficient new evidence has been put forward to even prolong the suspect's detention.

The investigation will be continued during the days to come. Ultimately on Thursday November 29th the Public Prosecutor will decide whether to ask the Judge for a prolongation of the detention of the two brothers K. with another eight days.

In the case against J.v.d.S. ultimately December 7th a decision has to be taken about further prolongation of his detention.

Download the Official Press Release here:
http://www.aruba.com/download/NHprsrls112707.pdf