Update: A reader sends this link suggesting the information I was given as regards Van der Sloot is incorrect. If that's the case, then I would stand corrected, retract the post relating what I was told as to his status and apologize immediately. I don't read Dutch, unfortunately.
This isn't what I just posted about but I realized I did come upon some information readers might like to know while I hope to address a more significant item.
A well trusted source has informed me that Joran Van der Sloot's Father, Paulus Van der Sloot is not a powerful political figure on the island of Aruba. The lack of information available on him somewhat supports that. And he is not a judge. It is quite possible he is not an attorney, or at least has not practiced law in Aruba.
If I understand the dynamics involved, and I could be wrong, hopefully a reader will confirm in comments - it is not required to be a lawyer to become a Judge in Aruba. If so, he may also have the required certs. without much practical experience. He is, however, very well-known within political circles in Aruba - but a source insists he can not in any way be described as a "powerful" political figure.
He studied at the International School to take a required exam to become a Judge - but failed the exam. He may again be preparing to re-take the exam. This is what I have been told by an Aruban source and is not an attempt to diminish the man, but only convey what I have been told.
Additional reports suggest it was not unheard of for him to accompany Joran to casinos to enjoy a game of poker - and may have been present when Joran was first confronted by police after the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. According to one source, they were playing poker in a casino at the time.
And to think the above isn't even what I want to write tonight. Damn! Sorry - back to work.
Hope to see you soon.
You are kidding. The police approached them together when they first heard of NH missing and they were playin poker. Where? I thought they first picked him up at the Van Der Sloot house.
One of us needs some sleep cuz this ain't addin up
Posted by: Spike | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 08:37 PM
well if that was the lead-in, the story you were going to write must be a doozy.....
keep it comin'......
Posted by: lee | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 08:40 PM
i have only one comment
myabe the father isn't powerfull but he knows people that is powerfull...this is not america its really small island 97,000 everybody knows everybody.... i think the dad has high influence...because if it was the 2 guards that was first queation and they say no we drop the girl here....there would be arrested in anyway i think because the polis knew the 3 boys and the family of them they would go easy @ them and forget that they could be suspects....and go blindly another way...
in these little island when they know your family is wealthy or has tighs to big people...
they go easy on you that what i think happens
there is tons of rumors.... if the girl is alive i don't think the girl is in Aruba she can easily get in a boat go to curacao from there she can go anywhere......
Posted by: Civilian | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 08:57 PM
I ran across an AP story from Jamaica and thought readers might be interested in hearing about this case as well.
JAMAICA: Three charged with murder of U.S. tourist
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - Jamaican police said Monday they had charged three people, including a teenager, with the murder of a U.S. tourist whose body was found in a shallow grave on the popular vacation island last month.
Damian Miller, 18, Toiseini Timberlake, 24, and Dennis Morrison, 30, were charged with the crime on Sunday, and were scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Montego Bay police said.
The three suspects are accused of killing Stephen King, 42, of Daytona Beach, Florida.
King was last seen on May 13, when he checked into a Montego Bay hotel with a woman companion. Police say the couple left the hotel in the evening driving a rented car, but that King was not with the woman when she returned to the hotel the following morning and checked out. King had been scheduled to leave the island on May 16.
I think this is a reminder things like this can happen to any American visiting a foreign territory, regardless of age, gender and race.
Posted by: Another Similar Case | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 09:14 PM
Stephen King was killed in Jamaica? WOW!
Posted by: Spike | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 09:28 PM
Whoever your source is he is full of shit.
Paulus van der Sloot is a judge, as a matter of fact a diffrent judge whas flown in from Curacao last Saturday to decide the faith of the boys for the next 7 days.
A local judge whas not envolved especially because he knows Paulus van der Sloot as one of his work buddies.
At International School you can take an exam for a US high school diploma, not to become a Judge.
To become a Judge in the Dutch judicial system one goes to university, studies law, graduates and get's the title MR (master in law) and then applies for a traineeship at a lawfirm.
Becomes a lawyer, joins a firm or opens his own practice and when years pass gets appointed as a judge. In Holland one gets appointed as a judge.
Paulus van der Sloot whas appointed as a judge and later in his career sent to Aruba to work as a judge since Aruba is a Dutch Colony with Dutch laws.
He is not envolved in politics, get your facts straightened out
And one more thing, kids in Aruba who are either stupid or can't manage regular Dutch schooling end up in International School, it costs a fortune and all of a sudden they become straight A students.
If Joran where to obtain his High school diploma there will be no way he can go to university in Holland.
Posted by: Clinton | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 09:50 PM
This ties to other info I have read stating that his father was only a "substitute judge" and not overly well to do, but of ample income. I also understand that his tuition was paid in part of full as a result of his mother teaching at the school. I've not been able to prove this yet though.
Posted by: Mel | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 09:51 PM
@ Mel
Your so wrong.
He is a JUDGE, not a substitute judge, not someone who failed to take a test to become a judge but a real JUDGE appointed.
That means he makes a shitload of money and can barely be described as having "ample" of income.
He is able to pay any tuition for his son.
Posted by: Clinton | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:02 PM
Paul Van der Sloot, Anita Van der Sloot, Joran Van der Sloot
http://album.pancayente.com/displayimage.php?album=19&pos=36
Posted by: stl_native | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:15 PM
Joran's 2 brothers and Daddy (Paul Van der Sloot)
http://album.pancayente.com/displayimage.php?album=19&pos=25
Posted by: stl_native | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:17 PM
He is a judge and was appointed. Check out this site, you will have to translate it on bablefish on altavista.com
Here is what is says:
The lord Mr. P.A.P.J. of of the ditch (50) is proposed for appointment to deputy member of the common Court of Justice of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. The lord of of the ditch is now operative as a principal private secretary at the Procurator-General of Aruba. The appointment discusses 1 January 2003 for a period of three years
Sounds like his job will be over on Jan 1 2006
http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient-menuext&hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eperssupport%2Eanp%2Enl%2FHome%2FPersberichten%2FActueel%3FitemId%3D34307
Posted by: Eric-bham | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:18 PM
You're gonna love this one...
http://album.pancayente.com/displayimage.php?album=19&pos=34
Posted by: stl_native | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:20 PM
Looking at the Dad and two brothers makes this really very sad. Cute, innocent kids. My heart goes out to Natalee, Natalee's family and, now, Van Der Sloot's family.
Posted by: Orange | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:30 PM
It seems Joran has been given way too much freedom on this island. Drinking, gambling, I had curfews when I was 17. It wasn't until college that I was free to party-up. He probably had his parents fooled but he HAS HAD a reputation for being a party-boy and parents should know at the very least what kind of rep their kids have, even if it is untrue.
Posted by: Eric Irvin | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:33 PM
Thanks for clarifying guys... That's what I get for reading and watching the news stations!
Posted by: Mel | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:41 PM
Word is they just released the two security guards...stay tunes!!!
Posted by: Eric-bham | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:42 PM
Nevermind that I think CNN must have been sumerizing the paperwork filed.
Posted by: Eric-bham | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:03 PM
Heard on CNN the guards were in fact released! About time!
Posted by: Orange | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:22 PM
First of all International School is a High School, not a University to become lawyer or judge.
http://www.isaruba.com/
I have been in Aruba multiple times. In case somebody wants to kill somebody the easiest way to get rid of a body is just to throw it to the ocean. Specially in the west tip of the island where the ocean waves and strong winds push you out of the land and to the sea. There is where the famous lighthouse stands.
Did these three guys have something to do with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway? I don’t know, seems that they have the answers to most of the questions.
But I am pretty sure that 1, 2 or 100 pictures of a teenager having drinks, or dancing don’t make anybody guilty of kidnapping/murdering. It doesn’t matter if you are 17, 19 or 15, drinking is a normal thing for teenagers in the Caribbean Islands and Latinamerica in or around the beech.
Posted by: George | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:22 PM
Does anyone know the owner of Carlos 'n Charlies in Aruba? I see in searching that it is a franchise, but can someone tell me who the owner is???
Posted by: Kim | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:27 PM
Hey Dan...and others
Scared Monekys is now reporting that 1 of the security guards, Jones, has been released and John will be released shortly... Looks like your earlier info was on target..
Posted by: Mel | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:30 PM
You don't have be a lawyer in the U.S. to become a judge.
Posted by: Mike | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:48 PM
Check out the photos from Soul Fest 2005, including this one that sorta looks like Natalee with a guy.
http://album.pancayente.com/displayimage.php?album=22&pos=270
Posted by: WW | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 12:18 AM
That is so not Natalee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: deb | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 12:35 AM
good find Eric_bham. the original page -
http://www.perssupport.anp.nl/Home/Persberichten/Actueel?itemId=34307
looks to me that someone is trying to throw you off Dan.
Posted by: lawbster | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 06:15 AM
Daddy van der Sloot works as principal private secretary at the Procurator-General of Aruba, read as prosec utors office I wander how objective this investigations is .....
B.t.w. good job on this site, if you need dutch or papiamento translation just send me an email !
Posted by: brian | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 09:43 AM
Suprised when I saw the picture of Daddy van der Sloot was my law-profesor at the University of Aruba....
Posted by: brian | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 09:54 AM
Have you or anyone heard anything on Paradera? Does anyone know anything about something found at this location?
Posted by: smore | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 02:01 PM
Hey eric b-ham, funny translation u got there!
'of the ditch' means 'van der sloot' in Dutch!
Actually, clinton has got it ALMOST right about the way to be appointed a judge in Aruba (in fact, in the Dutch kingdom)
You study law first (4,5 years at university ABSOLUTELY NOT any international school), get at least 5 years of relevant practical experience (as an attorney or legal advisor, in the case of daddy van der Sloot: he indeed worked at the prosecutors office for some years, not any more though!) then APPLY for the 3,4 year so called RAIO-study (rechterlijk ambtenaar in opleiding,loosely translated as judicial-officer-in-training). After completing the RAIO you can become either a judge or a prosecutor. When approved for entering the RAIO, you are sworn in as a substitute judge (which eric b-ham's strangely translated article about daddy van der Sloot was all about)
---Brian, not to be nasty, but if you are a law student in Aruba you really should KNOW this---
It is at this last part (completing the RAIO) that daddy van der Sloot failed. But, since he was sworn in as a substitute judge for a period of 3 years, technically he is still a judge until Jan 1, 2006.
well, hope that cleared up some misunderstandings!
Posted by: catty | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 11:04 PM
FOX TV is going to interview some friend on Joran's on TV right now they say.
Posted by: bama mama | Thursday, June 16, 2005 at 12:59 PM
Clinton....you tell people to get their facts straight while yours run a crooked line like a pair if vericlose veins....The International School of Aruba is not set up for "dummies" who can't make it in the MAVO or HAVO Dutch schools in Aruba. It is designed for several different reasons 1) for American kids living on the island who want to be taught in the american based school system as they plan to attend American colleges and for ANY other student who wants to go there....They can elect to go to Dutch or American Universities...Joran could have gone to either countries for his secondary schooling as he is fluent in 4 languages.....your so far off base on the ISA that it's laughable, actually it is viewed as an elite school on the island demanding the highest scholastic ability to get in.....
In June of 05 Paulus was not a judge but studying to become and was sworn in Feb of 06. Check the Aruban newspspers as the story was displayed there on the first page of Aruba Today.
On the contrary Judge's in Holland and Aruba don't make shit loads of money like in the USA and personally 110,000 a year for a USA judge isn't that great in my eyes if he has a wife and 3 or 4 kids....that ain't shit cause I make half of that with no husband and kids and it don't go far after the mortgage and bills are paid.....so before you tell people to get their facts straight you should be sure yours are......how do I know....I lived in Aruba from 90-99 and worked for the U.S. Justice Dept as a U.S. Immigration/Customs Inspector at the Aruban Airport (Queen Beatrix Int'l Airport) and was privy to all types of intels....plus I KNOW the island and for the person who posted everyone knows everyone.....that's a crock of shit...97,000 people is alot more than you think and despite my Aruban husband being more and raised there after 42 years of living on the island he did not know EVERYONE or even close to everyone !!!!
Posted by: Aquabooge | Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 02:03 PM
It is amazing to watch money evolve from worthwhile to worthless.
The United States is running the country on borrowed money. People are
not succeeding in life, they are buying success and going
bankrupt because they are not following any restraint or fear of
loss. Their is always cheaper money to buy in the US. This is so
dangerous and I believe the value of the US dollar would crash if
the actual value that is placed on our own currency was understood by the
rest of the world.
www.initred.com
Posted by: Jebs Prada | Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 01:04 PM