Paul Van der Sloot Background

Thanks to Hasibokus for this translation of a recent Dutch article on Paul(us) Van der Sloot. It's interesting background reading on the man just released while his son remains in custody.

My headline for the article wouldn't have been quite so glowing. There appears to be more than a hint of self interest in his biggest claim to fame and no mention of his potential judgeship having been de-railed prior to the Natalee Holloway case based upon performance evaluations - according to Fox.

Van der Sloot, persistent lawyer with principles

The lawyer Paul van der Sloot, that is detained in Aruba in the Natalee Holloway affair is here mostly known for his 20-year fight against the building of a motorway around Boxtel.

Boxtel

Paul van der Sloot is indeed member of a brass band and he goes all out during the carnival, but in Aruba he is mostly known as the serious lawyer for whom the principles of justice always and everywhere comes in first place. 

There was a huge disbelief in Aruba when he was arrested for his alleged involvement in disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Boxtel had experienced him as someone who would always persevere and had a thorough manner of working. 

Paul van der Sloot fought twenty years long (from 1973 until 1993) with local residents against the construction of a southern motorway, that had to be build partly over the estate of the Van der Sloot family. Paul van der Sloot stood his ground and fought civil servants and politicians that had proposed and produced the faulty plans for the new motorway in the Cousil of State. The motorway came eventually but it was not laid through the scenic valuable territory anymore but further away. 

In his birthplace Boxtel, van der Sloot was criticized a lot because while he was fighting the developments of the new motorway,  the dangerous traffic was still led trough Boxel and this was causing accidents and consequently was costing the lives of many people.  Van der Sloot was seen as a fault-finder that to prevent the motorway from being build on part of his land, was willing to sacrifice the lives of the youth who attended the schools in the vicinity of the local dangerous streets. Van der Sloot said later on that the criticism hurt him deeply.

Tilburg

Van der Sloot (53) got his legal education at the University of Tilburg in the seventies. He co-founded the Legal Faculty Association Tilburg and also the faculty newspaper ‘Nondejure'. After he finished his studies he did not went to work for the government, but assisted citizens that had conflicts with the government.  It was in that period in Arnhem, where he met a woman Anita (teacher of Artistic Formation) and it was also there were Joran and Valentijn, two of his three suns, were born.

New job

In 1991 Paul van der Sloot thought it was the time for a new job and he found one in Aruba where he was appointed for five year as a lawyer for the Aruban government. The ministers there were not impressed with his stance  „I always first try to find a compromise. By simply prosecuting nobody gets wiser.  If the authorities do something wrong I will always admit that. You must never interpret the facts differently then what they are.  I am convinced that on the long run this will give better results“, According to Van der Sloot in an interview ten years ago in the Brabants Dagblad. 

After a while Van der Sloot got a different assigment: the government wanted him to only set up contracts. Van der Sloot considered going back to The Netherlands, but he liked the small scale of Aruba and as it appeared he had enough possibilities to continue with his career.  He became cabinets leader for the public ministry and gave classes of Administrative Law at the local university. 

Judge

Two years ago Van der Sloot Ditch got the opportunity to become a judge.  With his background that meant that he had follow a training course of three years.  During that training period, he was appointed as a substitute judge in the Antillean court.  Van der Sloot completed the training period of a year in the Netherlands recently but he has not conducted a court(hearing) yet.

Comments

[MJM]

Oh yeah,

Great use of babelfish ;>

[Sarah]

I still really think that he has summtin to do with it... i dunno... but I have to say I am so happy that steve Croes was released.. I knew him personally from the vacation I just took.. he was arrested the nite before I left. From what I know of him he is a good guy~!

[houston]

Impressive credentials, intersting career path. Unfulfilled Judgeship ambitions, but fact remains No enough evidence to continue his detention, this NH case is going no where nor any one has any REAL clues as to where and what. It remains to be seen as to where this case will take any turn for the better in foresseable future. As time goes by and media gets newer news from elsewhere other news will take center stage, this case will find itself out of limelight and into oblivion, no clue whatso ever or any solid leads to continue detaining any of 3 remaining suspects. Most likely those may have to be let go in case they have nothing else during next week or 8 days or so. Hope she turns up like jennifer Wilbanks just hope now....

[MJM]

Maybe the investigation should relocate to MB?

think about it: you murder her and the next day your back home. And Aruban PD isn't going to knock on your door any time soon, now will they?

[moey]

Dan: Thank you so much for providing this forum. It has been interesting to see all the theories that have been shared.

Unfortunately, I do not think that we will ever know what occurred that night. Any one of the theories suggested could be true, a combination of them or something else very simple that no one has thought of yet.

I'm not an Aruba basher, but I really think if this would have been handled more aggressively from the beginning more evidence might have been turned up, but it is far too late and too many versions given to get to the bottom of it now.

I believe that everyone is eventually going to be let go as there is just no evidence and they are not admitting to anything, so where do you go.

I'm very sorry for the Holloway/Twitty families -- it is just such a shame that something like this could happen anywhere in the world. I wish everyone could be safe all the time, but as I preach to my 14-year-old granddaughter "always use common sense and be aware of your surroundings, especially in an unfamiliar place!"

Thanks again for keeping us updated on the latest.

[tanya]

Well houston why do you think your good friend and such a nice guy lied HMMM

[DennisAOK]

Sarah,

Your "good guy" Steve was willing to tell a lie to the police at the request of one or more of the three suspects. The Aruban cops shouldn't have been so gullible, but without this lie they might not have wasted so much time on the security guards and concentrated earleir on the men now in custody. Steve's lie hurt the case, perhaps irreparably. Why do you take perjury so lightly?

[Jacque]

I read the article. I know I heard the Judicial Minister of Aruba being interviewed by Geraldo over the weekend stating he was a failed judge in training and did not pass. PVDS was in to see him the week prior to Natalee's disappearance looking for some type of job.

PVDS's credentials are impressive. I do not think they play into the night of May 30, 2005 and his son Joran who is reported to have been left on the beach alone with Natalee.

They need to bring Anita in for questioning. Don't you think she knows more than she is saying?
I am sure the family was not mute when she returned from Holland. She just may hold a key to give this investigation a push in the right direction.

[houston]

tanya:
No facts are there to hold any of these ppl, no matter how they lied or how guilty they are, Unlike US laws they will walk free in absence of any hard evidence, all these detainees have sucessfully done so far is to keep their lips tight and offcourse lied , No 2 stories matched at first, But fact remains Lying charges or perjury does not equate to Murder charges. Lets hope some mariculous thing turn up NH alive and safe. You cant lose nothing to keep the hope alive

[tanya]

No houston but if this guys was as nice as you believe why doesn"t he do the right thing. Turn those liars in.

[houston]

tanya:
I have never said this guy is nice nor my "good friend", At this point I dont even know what to think I merely restated the original translation in the earlier comment, dont look this thing from emotional point, look at the facts and its merit from legal standpoint and i paraphrased the same
Dont think nice and good people who have a stake for their own life son family or career on the line will always do the right thing, as we saw this in lst 2 weeks, but then again we dont know what exactly happened and how..... to do the right thing takes a lot of moral courage and how many people you know eill do as you think....

[TK Ice]

Lots of noise on scaredmonkeys about the possibility that Natalee's body has just been found. Lots of traffic though slowing down the re-loads

[ElissafanBelgium]

The more you begin to notice, the more there are missing woman on those parts of the world, especially on cruises too, here's another vanishing:
http://www.angelsmissing.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1747

Seems this is happening very frequent the last few years...

[michele in Bham]

This article is interesting.

In a sense, lots of the same kind of power players (as rish Van Der Sloot) live in Mountain Brook and sent their kids on that trip.

Two worlds are colliding, and they seem to have more in common with each other than was previously known.

No doubt, if Joran had been the son of Joe Blow, the crime would of been investigated.

I guess the powers that be in Aruba didn't count on a push back from the powers that be in Mountain Brook.

[Ari]

MJM: I don't think that the kids, either MB, or the three that are detained, would have been able to make a body completely vanish in such a short time. There was nothing left behind. No signs of struggle anywhere, no scent the dogs could track, and no eyewitnesses in a place that is pretty much awake all night long. It is a strange story.

[lou]

His latest version has Joran claiming he left Natalee on the beach. OK. Assuming so. My question to him is "Whatever happened to chivalry?" At that hour isn't there a responsibility to see the lady safely back to her hotel? Tsk. Tsk.

[tideroller]

To Sarah and Houston - Wake up! That is the modus operandi of sociopaths. They can be real charmers when they want to be. People should be judged by their actions, not their "charm". The guy flat out lied! He is NOT a nice guy. Period.
To MJM - I would be LOL at your preposterous suggestion, if the case were not so tragic. Young teen-age boys in a foreign country would not know where to hide a body. It is sad that some people, just because they don't want their precious island to be tarnished, refuse to see reality.

[tideroller]

Were others not struck by what I was as I read the snow-job bio of Papa VDS? Reading between the lines, I picked up on a consistant strain of his feeling he was above the law and wanting his way over the well-being of other people. (blocking the roadway.) Plus the article mentions jobs that he lost due to supervisors not being pleased with him. Kinda indicates the gene pool that Junior VDS came from if you ask me.

[EJsgal]

He is, one who does not trust the gov. He does not believe he is above the law he just fears the control.

[EJsgal]

He is, one who does not trust the gov. He does not believe he is above the law he just fears the control.

[Websleuthing]

The bio left out the alleged illegitimate son Lorenzo that he allegedly has. I'd like more info on that. The bio was basically painting him as a "good guy". No mention of him with his son gambling, etc.

[Skyboxx]

Is is me, or does Papa VDS resemble the BTK Killer? Also there is a resemblence to John List, the AMW capture. Creepy looking guys are well creepy.

No more news from Aruba Seach today. Me thinks this is not what it was touted to be.

[Jillian]

PVDS and the BTK killer do look very similar...I noticed on my lunch break when I opened FoxNews...I had to do a double-take to make sure it wasn't VDS. They are both creepy looking, and both guilty...of something or other...?

[Coralee]

Bio interesting in what it does not say.

can't give him credit for being legal activist against the highway...he was doing it for his own selfish reasons, not for the good of community.

I also suspect our Eminent Domain laws here in states..(read the new twists on the ED powers here that were just passed)

Now if he had fought the road for reasons other then his personal property being involved..might admire that.

Who owns this van der sloot estate? Is it his, personally? or is it family owned.

It is true that failed career opportunities do not make a killer.

However, the move to Aruba and his past career choices and failure to move to top do make ingredients toward a profile.

I passed up an opportunity 20 years ago..I didnt' want to leave family and friends. It must take courage to trek out 8000 miles from home to an Island to live and work. I didnt have the courage.

[gbj]

I keep having this dream that Joran dumped Natalee in a septic tank or sewer system at one of the local hotels. I'm not psychic, but the dream keeps bothering me. Is anyone aware of what type of sewer systems exist at the hotels on Palm Beach?

[Ralph]

Still this guy and his son stink. I dont believe we will ever know what happened to the poor girl but I feel strong that they are involved in her death/disappearance. If that is true I hope they pay the price.

[Skyhawk]

Such a sick, violent, and selfish/greedy world we live in...those of you who are good people MUST stand up against wrong and corruption...this father obviously knows what happened, maybe even directly involved???...and now the focus is on his own son? Of course he will lie!!! My mother lied for my brother's sake on many occasions and I don't trust her AT ALL...big money=big lies that CAN and WILL be hidden!! The father and son's attitudes alone is a given...hopes of finding truth are grim, but one must never give up on hope, or follow through for justice...too often, justice is NEVER served...hopefully this time the truth will be revealed and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. After what I have seen with big money and politics, I severely doubt it!!!!!!!!!!
By the way, if you ever have the opportunity to stand up for those who are weaker or more vulnerable, please do so...because someone could save a life by doing this! Chivalry may not be dead, but it's in serious hibernation! The strong have a responsibility to protect the weak...especially when they are innocent victims of violence, lies, abuses, etc...Please stand up against it if you do not jeopardize your own safety...and if you can't, please call authorities and stand up against the wrong!
Think about it, how many honest attorneys have you met in your life?
And Sarah, I would guess that you are about 18-22 years old! You have a LOT to learn about human nature! PLEASE be careful about who you trust and most importantly, TEST that trust!!!! My trust in the wrong people cost me my own life!!! Maybe you will understand that in 20 years????

[Jenn]

Skyhawk,

Well put. Human Nature is real. WE are animals and just like dogs some of us are unruly and hard to train. Never underestimate human instinct. Fight or flight, run and hide, or even disappear.
Desperate situations cause people to react desperately. When love and protection are involved with people who have committed a crime, there will be lies and secrets that we will all just have to try and digest...

[VR]

Seems to 'care' about his own, but history of
"not caring" about other people's children

For 20 years fought to keep his precious scenic
land in tact, rather than prevent multiple deaths
of school children ? He should have donated the
land out of his "portrayed" ? serious ? legal
ethic? in the above information.

No explanation needed as to his 'actions' re
Nattalie disappearance.

Is the 3rd son Lorenzo ????

[justice]

Here is a link to some background information about PVDS:

http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2005/06/paul_van_der_sl_1.html

[justice]

I think Lorenzo is the 4th son (actually the 1st).

[justice]

Is pic #116 JVDS's friend "Jaime"???

[Lee]

The people of the United States will not rest until we know the whole truth about Natalee. Even if it means boycotting Aruba to get it. I think the police have the right suspect and I think the Kalpoe brothers need to be behind bars also. I think the police had better start doing their job.I have never seen such an uncaring police force and government in a free world, in my life.

Paulus van der Sloot is a poor example of good parenting. He allowed his underage son to drink and gamble and stay out to all hours of the night. And he's covering for him so he doesn't have to pay for his crime.

In my opinion these boys are guilty. At the very least it's been proven that they're all liars. At the most they could be murderers. Then in between add kidnapping and sexual assault. Who would want to send their family members to Aruba knowing there are these type of people prowling the bars looking for victims? And knowing that the police of Aruba are inept or just plain stupid and couldn't care less how many people go missing in their country. Stay away from Aruba! It's a dangerous place.

I think Beth Twitty has the right to talk to Deepak Kalpoe any time she wants to. She's trying to get answers from one of the last people to see her. I guarantee if one of those boys went missing their parents would be doing the same thing.

Question? Is there a conspiracy among the Aruban government and the polic force? I think so. I have no idea why they don't want this case solved, but I do know they're constantly throwing a wrench in everytime something positive comes to light. They have done nothing to help at the garbage dump,or anywhere else and in my opinion are totally useless.

Do not fear. Beth Twitty is a determined woman who wants her daughter back and she won't quit until ALL of the suspects are charged and put behind bars. And the people of the United States are behind her all the way. We will enver give up on Natalee.

One more thing...who does Deepak think he is???? How dare he try to bring charges against Beth Twitty for harrassment! If he were innocent he would have talked to her and answered all her questions, and been glad to do it. What a piece of garbage he is.

Enough said.

[Marcel]

Deze is voor de politie van Aruba: wordt het niet eens tijd om die tuin en die waterput om te spitten? Natalee ligt waarschijnlijk op hun terrein!!!
This is for the Aruban police: is it not getteing time to dig in the yard and waterwell of the van der Sloot family? Maybe Natalee is laying in there yard!!!

I thought I write this in Dutch first, so the Aruban police can understand my question (they seem to be so dumb).

I hope Natalees parents will ever find her back.

[Richard White]

Aruba police have been straying from normal procedures, and it definitely looks sketchy. Even Joran’s mother said that they should never have released her son from police custody after he was initially arrested for questioning. This is his own mother saying this. I had actually planned on taking a trip to Aruba with a large group of friends, and what has come out of all of this that there a gangs like the “PIMPS”, running around having their way in the Island with police and judicial protection and gang raping tourist, and in premeditated rape and murder. Is this a safe place for college students to go? It’s a real shame that the rest of Aruba must suffer for those few people who are giving it a bad name. If these kids and their father are not convicted and put away for a long. The Aruba government should seriously consider whether covering up for these people is worth ruining their economy, and running American’s out. This is all in my opinion, and you can believe what you want, but so can I and I think that Joran and his buddies are guilty, and his father and his government “buddies” are helping and hoping to cover it up.
The people of the United States will not rest until we know the whole truth about Natalee, and do not fear. Beth Twitty is a determined woman who wants her daughter back and she won't quit until ALL of the suspects are charged and put behind bars

[Richard White]

This whole case reeks of conspiracy. I know, “innocent until proven guilty,” is the right thing to say, but I don’t care what any of you say, were there is smoke there is a FIRE given this fact, Joran, the Kalpoe brothers and Joran’s neighbor, ARE guilty, and his father is too. His father is guilty for trying to cover it up and abetting a murder and gang rape. His dad just happens to be in a great position to cover up the murder. How convenient for Joran. You don’t think his father has connections with people high up in the Aruba government that would help him to cover up his son’s actions? Yeah right. No doubt, if Joran had been the son of Joe Blow, the crime would have been investigated and solved.

I'm not an Aruba basher, but I really think if this would have been handled more aggressively from the beginning more evidence might have been turned up. I have never seen such an uncaring police force and government in a free world, in my life. Why is Paul still being paid by the government?

Aruba police have been straying from normal procedures, and it definitely looks sketchy. Even Joran’s mother said that they should never have released her son from police custody after he was initially arrested for questioning. This is his own mother saying this. I had actually planned on taking a trip to Aruba with a large group of friends, and what has come out of all of this that there a gangs like the “PIMPS”, running around having their way in the Island with police and judicial protection and gang raping tourist, and in premeditated rape and murder. Is this a safe place for college students to go? It’s a real shame that the rest of Aruba must suffer for those few people who are giving it a bad name. If these kids and their father are not convicted and put away for a long. The Aruba government should seriously consider whether covering up for these people is worth ruining their economy, and running American’s out. This is all in my opinion, and you can believe what you want, but so can I and I think that Joran and his buddies are guilty, and his father and his government “buddies” are helping and hoping to cover it up.
The people of the United States will not rest until we know the whole truth about Natalee, and do not fear. Beth Twitty is a determined woman who wants her daughter back and she won't quit until ALL of the suspects are charged and put behind bars.

[aj]

I first want justice for Natalee. Unfortunately, she is unable to fight for herself. Beth and her family have lost so very much, in the last two years! The reason this case is still in the media, is because of the efforts of Beth Holloway! Beth would rather have her daughter, than to have this unfortunate tragedy in her life. So, Beth bought a different house; big deal! Maybe the surroundings was overwhelming, with the constant reminder of not knowing where her child was? The divorce of her second marriage? Let's not forget about, Natalee's brother Matt! He must have a HUGE void in his life. Maybe Beth and Matt needed a different home!
Disturbed!.!.

[Truth]

Very simple solution... release everyone in american death row on aruba... have them torture the father Paul and his sons, the authorities, the "Pimps" and anyone else in their way until they get their stories straight... then ship the killers head back to Beth.

[dee]

hard to believe... does PVD own or family-own other land in Aruba? If this land is close enough to hear the ocean- by a cliff?? Has bermuda grass and a garden with unfinished fish pond *cement in bags near by! distant cousin or cousin in law with a housekeeper??? small plot of land with chicken wire around it??? can hear surf; smell ocean??? washing machine in house-washed clothes dressed NH in different clothes- buried shoes, etc. in bermuda grass--- perhaps, NH alive- memory wiped clean??? no memory... now not on aruba somewhere foreign with dark moorish man??? if others have disappeared - huamn traafficking is a possibility! PVS is fishing pole; son is hook... drug is bait... look at the big picture,NH's story involves a lot of money... and big players--- JVS knows alot more than is being said... NH in house for some time around 3 am ... rental car---came---she disappeared. why let her die- if nothing was at stake??! (dream too vivid to be ignored)