AMSTERDAM — The Dutch teenager held for over two months in connection with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway on Aruba arrived back in the Netherlands on Tuesday morning.

Joran van der S., 18, was freed from custody earlier this month but he told a reporter at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport that he remains a suspect in the disappearance and suspected murder of the US school graduate.

He has come back to the Netherlands for further education. He had wanted to take up study in the US but under the terms of his release from custody he may only travel within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the Netherlands, Aruba and the Dutch Antilles).

Holloway, 18, vanished on 30 May while holidaying on Aruba with friends to celebrate their graduation from high school. Aruba is a Caribbean island of 71,000 people.

Van der S. and two of his friends, Surinamese nationals Satish K., 18, and Deepak  
K., 21, are believed to be the last people to have been with Holloway prior to her disappearance.

Van der S. was arrested on 9 June and while he has given differing accounts of the last hours with Holloway he has always denied harming her.

Repeated searches have failed to find any trace of Holloway.

A court turned down a prosecution request to extend his detention while the investigation continues.

His two friends were re-arrested at the end of August but have also been released again. They have no plans to go on to further education at the moment and must therefore remain in Aruba.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

Subject: Dutch news