Judge Orders Joran Van Der Sloot Released

An Aruban judge has ordered Dutch teen Joran Van Der Sloot released from detention according to his father, who said the judge ruled there was no reason to hold his son on suspicion of murder, but he remains a suspect in the sexual assault of Natalee Holloway.

However, defense attorney Antonio Carlo said the 18-year-old Van Der Sloot remains a suspect in the murder of Holloway, but will be released Saturday pending outcome of the investigation.

Carlo said the judge's decision "only has to do with the pretrial detention. The primary condition is he has to remain available to police," Carlo said.

Prosecutors declined to comment on the ruling, which followed a hearing Wednesday, because they had not seen the judge's written ruling.

"A press release will be sent out only when we have gotten all of the decisions made by the judge of instruction. Most probably this will be tomorrow morning," the prosecutor's statement said.

Van Der Sloot was detained June 9 with Surinamese brothers Satish Kalpoe, 18, and Deepak Kalpoe, 21, on suspicion of involvement in Holloway's disappearance. The Kalpoe brothers were released on July 4 but were re-arrested last week.

Holloway disappeared May 30, the last scheduled night of her vacation, and was last seen leaving a nightclub with Van Der Sloot and the Kalpoes.

See Also:
Father of Suspect in Holloway Case Says Son Will Be Released

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Background:
Natalee Holloway: Missing in Aruba