Aruban justice authorities want to question Van der Eem

19 February 2008

ORANJESTAD – The justice department on Aruba plans to question Patrick van der Eem (34) as a witness in the Natalee Holloway case. The questioning does not necessarily have to be voluntary, public prosecutor Hans Mos has said.

Van der Eem, who managed to get information out of Joran van der Sloot regarding the disappearance of the high school student, could risk being taken into custody temporarily. "He has told his story to a lot of media and must now explain it to us," Mos said Tuesday.

The attitude from the justice department surprises Van der Eem, who is on Aruba at the moment to meet with American writer E.E. Byars, who wants to use his experiences in a book.

"I have nothing to hide, but I also know how to keep my mouth shut. It wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve kept my mouth shut. If they want to take me into custody, they should go ahead and do that. They have nine days to try to do so. But I am on the prosecution’s side, all they have to do is phone me and I’ll be there."

Van der Eem is not only on Aruba for the book. "It is also a great place for a holiday. And I spent a great deal of my childhood here, from when I was four until I was 12."

Writer Byars (33) helped with some translation for Peter R. de Vries’s broadcast on the Holloway case, which is how she met Van der Eem. Until now she has only written fiction but expects that the book on the Holloway case, entitled Disposed, should be in American bookstores in September.

Subject: Dutch news