According to High Commissioner Bernadina
The fact that the suspects are free, is not necessarily negative for the case
This related to the case of Natalee Holloway
DIARIO Aruba
11/03/2005

ORANJESTAD (AAN): DIARIO conversed with High Commissioner Ronny Bernadina on Wednesday about the fact that Beth Twitty arrived in Aruba and what has been planned for the manifestation [planned for today at 6 pm]. According to Bernadina, it is not necessary to obtain a permit for a manifestation.

Police will control matters if something happens during and after the manifestation, where they will also survey the text on possible signs that could have text which contains insults on them.

Bernadina also said that if a sign contains insults, it will be taken away. If the group has a parade then yes, they must get a permit from police.

According to Bernadina he met with Beth Twitty some time back, when the lady went to his home and he asked Twitty to come in, but she didn’t want to. However she gave the Commissioner a letter, where she wrote that if for some reason Natalee’s body is found, for the police o do an autopsy within 6 hours and send the body to America within 8 hours.

Bernadina also said that American police sad that Twitty has good cooperation on the part of police and other agencies in Aruba, compared with how it is in America under the same circumstances. So Bernadina says that this shows that it is not the case that Aruba is not cooperating with Mrs. Twitty.

The Commissioner continues to say that the prosecution’s office is in charge of the whole investigation of the case and that the High Commissioner assigned all available experts, while there is a certain protocol communication with the prosecution’s office, in regards to information that is given to the press or others.

Bernadina explains also that the law prescribes that when you have suspects detained, you must have a case against them within 116 days.

In this case, this wasn’t achieved and the youngsters were let go. However Bernadina sees this as something positive for the investigation, given that there is no longer the pressure of the 116 days and the prosecution’s office and the police corps can take their time to work on the case against the suspects or find others who may be guilty.

Bernadina also says that in this case, the FBI was present in Aruba early on, where they were here within 24 hours after Natalee’s disappearance.

Aruba has now asked for legal advice, to be able to conduct certain investigations about this case, focusing also in America, where the intention is, among other things, to collect more detailed declarations on the part of Natalee Holloway’s classmates.

[translated by Getagrip]