by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
LIMA, Peru – Joran Van der Sloot, the Dutch citizen accused of murdering Peruvian student, Stephany Flores, has brought a suit demanding US $10 million in damages from the Chilean government. Van der Sloot claims that his human rights were violated in extraditing him from Chile to Peru. He has filed his claim with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
In the petition Van der Sloot names the Chilean government, the former Peruvian President Alan García, former Peruvian Minister of the Interior Octavio Salazar, the Chilean police generals Miguel Hidalgo and Cesar Guardia and even the father of his victim, Ricardo Flores.
The claims made by Van der Sloot are varied. First he claims that then-Peruvian President García used pressure to force the Chilean government to extradite him to Peru in May of 2010. Next, is his contention that when he was taken into custody, Chilean police refused to allow him access to a phone or any other form of communication to speak with his family. Van der Sloot also says he was denied the right to legal counsel and a fair trial.
This is not the first complaint that Van der Sloot has made about violations of his rights. A previous suit was filed alleging that Peruvian officials did not have a warrant for his arrest and that he was denied a translator which lead to his confusion during initial questioning. Peruvian courts dismissed this claim.
Van der Sloot’s current complaint was filed just days after a judge’s ruling that he would stand trial for the murder of Stephany Flores beginning on 6 January. On 30 May 2010, Flores’ body was found in Van der Sloot’s hotel room in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima. Hotel employees witnessed Van der Sloot and Flores entering the room together and then 4 hours later Van der Sloot left the room alone.
On 3 June 2010 he was picked up by Chilean police as he tried to flee from Santiago. Initially, he confessed to murdering Flores, but later retracted his statements
“The girl intruded into my private life. … We argued, and she tried to escape. I grabbed her by the neck, and I hit her,” was Van der Sloot’s alleged statement to police.
Police believe, from his statements at the time, that he killed Flores in a fit of anger as she used his laptop to find out about his role in the Natalee Holloway case. Van der Sloot is widely believed to have murdered 18 year old Holloway. She disappeared in 2005 from Aruba and he remains the lead suspect; however he has never been indicted due to a lack of evidence.
Peruvian prosecutors are going for a 30 year life sentence for the combined murder and robbery of Flores. They are also seeking a restitution payment that would go to her family. Originally, the death sentence was sought by the Flores family against Van der Sloot.
For more information, please see;
Radio Netherlands – Van der Sloot Sues Chile for 10m Dollars – 30 November 2011
NY Daily News – Joran Van der Sloot Sues Lima Murder Victim’s Dad, ex-Peruvian President – 29 November 2011
The Huffington Post – Joran Van der Sloot Names Former President and Stephany Flores Father in $10 Million Lawsuit – 28 November 2011
Peru This Week – Van der Sloot Names Former President García in $10 Million Suit – 28 November 2011
The Santiago Times – Dutch Murder Suspect to Sue Chilean State – 28 November 2011
