Man Sentenced in Aruba for Money Laundering 300,000 euros in Drug Money, Verdict is of Great Importance … Surely you Jest

 

Aruba prosecutes a man for 2 years for what is the equivalence of $400K US in money laundering and some Money launderinghow this is a ground breaking, important verdict? For who exactly? Seriously, any arrest and prosecution for money laundering in Aruba is usually a good things as money laundering is inherently tied with drug trafficking. However, in the Caribbean $400K is nothing as compared to the multi-billion dollar drug trade in which money laundering goes hand in hand. Talk about a drop in the bucket.

The billions of dollars now believed to be flowing through such offshore bank havens as Antigua, Aruba, the Cayman Islands and St. Maarten are difficult for authorities to trace because under these countries’ laws it is easy to open a bank, and depositor and transaction information must be kept secret. In some Caribbean nations, money laundering is not a crime.

Money laundering3

Barry McCaffrey, a retired general who is the Clinton administration’s anti-drug czar, said he had seen estimates that up to $50 billion from the sale of narcotics, out of an annual world total of $500 billion, is laundered through the Caribbean, making it a “ferociously corrupting influence” in the region. (Washington Post)

This case is supposed to make cases easier, who are they kidding? The guy who was arrested was a rank armature. That what protects drug dealers and money launders is not the restrictions of laws to go after them, but the fear to. Money laundering2

In most cases, it is very difficult for the police and the OM to accurately indicate from which specific drug- or other illegal transaction the money comes from. (Amigoe)

Arresting someone for laundering 300,000 euros as compared to what actually goes on in Aruba is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. But then again how typical, on the surface it appears to be a good will gesture, but in reality means nothing. All show and no substance.

Amigoe, May 21, 2007: Location and persecution of money laundering matters easier  

ORANJESTAD – The Public Prosecutor (OM) won an important criminal case yesterday.  The case was about money laundering.  The judge sentenced a man to two years imprisonment for laundering 300.000 euro originating from dealing in narcotics.  This judgement is going to make it easier for the OM to proof money laundering practices.  

The ministry indicated that this verdict is of great importance.  Up till this verdict it was very difficult for the OM to get judgements in money laundering, due to furnishing of proof.  Most of the money that is laundered, originates from drug dealings.  In most cases, it is very difficult for the police and the OM to accurately indicate from which specific drug- or other illegal transaction the money comes from. The OM does no longer need to do this; not in this case and not in future ones.  Proving that the suspect should have known that the money comes from a crime is sufficient for the judge.   

The new money laundering act in Aruba is in line with the administration of justice of the Supreme Court in the Netherlands .  This makes it much easier for the police and the OM.   In yesterday’s case, the judge decided that the money had to come from a crime.  The suspect hid the money in a professional manner.  The false declaration of E.L.J. about the origin of the money and the contacts he had with persons that took part in laundering organizations for drug money, were sufficient proof for the judge to sentence the guy to imprisonment.

 



If you liked this post, you may also like these:

  • Aruba Cooperating with American, Dutch, Antillean Governments on Drugs … What About Missing People and Crimes Against Tourists?
  • Sean Bucci Sentenced to 12 1/2 Years on Federal Drug, Money Laundering & Tax Evasion Charges
  • Aruba: More Arrests in Criminal Drug Gangs … Good Police Work in Aruba, So what Happened in the Natalee Holloway Case?
  • Aruba: More Drug Smugglers Sentenced on “One Happy Island”
  • In Aruba its not About the decrease in Tourism, but the Increase in Drugs




  • Comments

    40 Responses to “Man Sentenced in Aruba for Money Laundering 300,000 euros in Drug Money, Verdict is of Great Importance … Surely you Jest”

    1. houston on May 22nd, 2007 5:35 am

      Seems like a small arrest to me.

    2. Richard on May 22nd, 2007 5:58 am

      Yep, the network of financial deviousness is complex indeed in the Caribbean. I’ve read that many corporate dealings are that way too … hard to tell who actually owns what.

      Evasiveness and deceit, along with a certain reluctance to be straightforward with the truth. Witnesses must be honest, but suspects must not.

      Why, someone could be snatched off one of those islands and maybe never turn up again. How comforting, though, to think that it can’t happen to an American, even in a region where crime is rampant, the “have nots” target the “haves” (as in so many other areas, to be sure), the drug lords run rampant and the continent of South America, where trafficking in women is a multi-billion dollar business, is nearby.

      But nope … can’t happen to an American.

      Besides, sex slavery is a myth.

    3. Mark on May 22nd, 2007 6:34 am

      what do you want ? if they dont do nothing you critizise..if they do something you critize…just grow up dude ..there are more bigger problems in the world then the tiny island of Aruba…and if you man enough you let this comment stand…

      ________

      SM: And if you were man enough you would admit the truth about money laundering in the Caribbean  … but I guess we know the answer to that don’t we. Man Up … or shut up.

    4. Richard on May 22nd, 2007 7:16 am

      After posting the above, I found this story in today’s news.

      Seems that there was a big sex-slave ring in Minneapolis and that area, involving women from various countries.

      Included were women from the Caribbean region (which argues that someone is a “supplier” in that area).

      Not only that … the ring was publicized to casino patrons.

      Imagine that. Well, nothing to worry about; after all, we know that nothing like that could happen to an American.

      http://www.twincities.com/ci_5952466?source=rss

      25 arrested in Twin Cities in international sex slave bust
      Federal agents shut down ‘major prostitution ring’ at 8 brothels in 4 cities
      BY EMILY GURNON
      Pioneer Press

      A criminal enterprise that ran a bustling ring of brothels throughout the Twin Cities forced foreign women into “sex slavery” and handed out business cards at a casino to lure customers, federal authorities alleged Monday.

      During weekend raids, agents arrested 25 people and shut down a “major prostitution ring” that operated eight brothels in homes in Minneapolis, West St. Paul, Richfield and Austin, Minn., federal officials said.

      Five others were arrested for immigration violations incidental to the prostitution investigation, and others were taken into custody and released, an immigration official said.

      One of the alleged brothels in Minneapolis was at 2955 Bloomington Ave. S., where the arrest of several suspects Saturday got the attention of immigrants who feared a raid.
      But although 18 of the suspects were listed by the U.S. attorney’s office as being illegal immigrants, the community should not fear a wholesale roundup, said U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose at a Monday news conference.
      “This was absolutely not an immigration raid,” Paulose said.

      According to the indictment, six women and 19 men were involved in the ring, whose activities were documented from January 2006 to this month.

      The indictment states a 37-year-old illegal immigrant, Marisol Ramirez, served as the ringleader and confiscated the passports of the women while they worked at the brothels. Other defendants helped by running a transition house, operating the brothels themselves, supplying drugs to the brothels, picking up prostitutes at the airport and delivering condoms.

      Others helped by passing out business cards at various locations, including the Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake.
      One alleged prostitute was among those indicted. That woman helped promote the operation and rented an apartment used as a brothel, the indictment said.

      Paulose said the women were subjected to harsh treatment. In an example cited in the indictment, one brothel operator bragged to Ramirez that two of his prostitutes had serviced 80 men in just one night.

      Officials said some of the women were illegal immigrants and some were not. They said they did not know how many women were forced into prostitution or what countries or states they came from. They did not identify any prostitutes who were minors, Paulose said, but “the investigation is ongoing.”

      Federal officials differed with St. Paul police about the origins of the case.

      Nancy Di Perna, an assistant police chief in St. Paul, said at the news conference that slain Sgt. Gerald Vick planted the seed from which the investigation grew.

      “Sgt. Gerald Vick became aware of a criminal enterprise that brought women from Central American and Caribbean countries to this area,” Di Perna said. “These women were kept in a demeaning and degrading life, while a few people at the top of that enterprise became very wealthy.”

      However, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Tim Counts said later that ICE led the investigation and developed it independently before other agencies became involved.

      “When we teamed up, it turns out that some information they had was likely the same information as this,” Counts said.
      Vick was murdered during an undercover prostitution investigation in May 2005.

      A federal grant to the Gerald Vick Human Trafficking Task Force – composed of investigators from the FBI, ICE, St. Paul and Minneapolis police, Ramsey and Hennepin county sheriff’s offices and others – aided the investigation detailed Monday.

      The arrests at the Bloomington Avenue apartment sparked a protest there Saturday.

      One immigrant advocate said as many as 200 people stopped to watch the bust when the word got out that immigration agents were in the heavily Latino area.

      No one was sure what was happening – and officials weren’t saying, said Alondra Espejel of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.

      (irrelevant portions of the article aren’t given here)

    5. Scared Monkeys on May 22nd, 2007 7:22 am

      #3, What kind of a clown are you that you do not think that a billion $ enterprise of drugs and money laundering is not a major issue? Stick your head back in the sand.
      R

    6. Vicki on May 22nd, 2007 8:36 am

      #3..grow up….LISTEN ALL…TIME TO MAKE A PHONE CALL…212-868-1900×224. Her name is Christina and she wrote an article about SATANS Island saying how safe it is… CALL HER like I did and tell her it aint so…She is a tad bit ignorant.

    7. mojo on May 22nd, 2007 8:46 am

      some of the biggest money launderers have been banks in the us, australia and uk. look to lawyers, insurance companies and that sort of financially adept group. these small time crooks are indeed a problem but a drop in the ocean compared to the instituionalized money laundering that goes on.

    8. Richard on May 22nd, 2007 8:53 am

      Money-laundering, drug trafficking … quite a place, Aruba.
      But we know that the island is safe from the sex trade, at least. Why, just ask the Aruba Tourism Authority.

      In the article I posted above, on the first read I missed that the police investigator given credit for bringing about the busts was murdered in May 2005 (interesting date to those of us who follow the Natalee case) “during an undercover prostitution investigation.”

      Sounds like business was big enough that some powerful people didn’t like the police poking around in their affairs.

      Think Pitbull?

    9. John Staton on May 22nd, 2007 9:35 am

      A few years ago an article “Aruba, Drug Traffickers Paradise” came out detailing how the government and the laws of Aruba protect drug trafficing. For years Aruba has been a major transhipment point and money laundering has been protected. All I can say is that this fool did not pay off the right people and is being made an example of so than no one else will be so foolish.

    10. disgustedmom on May 22nd, 2007 9:39 am

      Sounds like the Big Dogs didn’t like some little guy ingringing on their turf.

    11. disgustedmom on May 22nd, 2007 9:40 am

      Yikes! I meant inFringing! :)

    12. joe bear on May 22nd, 2007 10:09 am

      The biggest Money banks in the field include the Swiss and Dutch banks.If the drug trade was ended today,half the banks in Miami would fail.Sex trade is a viable and thriving enterprise in many places,including aruba.You can’t just say no problem.

    13. joe bear on May 22nd, 2007 10:15 am

      I was offered a chance to put assets in the Caymans and Aruba,to avoid taxes,by some people locally.I said NO,HELL NO.It all ties together,drugs,money laundering,porn and various other problems.Thecure can be one of two things,both are harsh,but would work

    14. Carpe Noctem on May 22nd, 2007 11:49 am

      #3 Bad news!!!

      Mr. Kotter

      called. He said you were

      going to be a Sweathog

      for another year. Welcome back!

    15. Observer on May 22nd, 2007 11:53 am

      Klaas please erase {{got it ;)  }}   (klaasend)

    16. Observer on May 22nd, 2007 11:55 am

      Judge Smid- Dutch judge in Curacao. As a public prosecutor in the NL, participated in the Carribean Financial Task Force as expert on money laundering.Judge Smid had originally ruled that Joran should be held another 30 days in detention but faxed in a reversal of his decision immediately after leaving the island and returning to the island of Curacao. Three weeks later a panel of Dutch judges ruled that Joran and the Kalpoe brothers would never have to give further testimony on the case unless it was on a “voluntary” basis despite the fact that the three suspects were telling conflicting stories.

      The leaked casino video recording appears to capture Paulus Van der Sloot conversing with Natalee Holloway at the Black Jack table. If it is revealed that the person is Paulus, the implication would be that both Joran and Paulus lied regarding Paulus leaving the Excelsior casino during the Poker Tournament. Another implication would be that Judge Rick Smid, who released Paulus from detention, declared he was no longer a suspect, and awarded him damages for wrongful detention was either uninformed or he gave one of his own preferential treatment.

    17. Carpe Noctem on May 22nd, 2007 12:40 pm

      KLPD-

      The gun
      The gun
      The gun

      One of them used one to
      shoot her in the head, I think.

      Please, track down the effing gun(s)

      ——–ALE RECORDINGS———

      Joran: I should have killed you, retard. Shut your trap.

      Deepak: Won’t be fun, if you are standing in front of the judge of instructions tomorrow. Why not? Too much evidence?

      Joran: Then they are also allowed to hit me. Do you think that it makes a difference to me. One slap will be enough.

      Satish: You think, you think.

      Joran: What do you think, that you are going home to get your gun?

      Satish: That I have a gun.

      Joran: Satish, you, get gun at home, me shoot you two dead.

      Satish: Look, the police already went to my house and already investigated [searched] the house. Did they find a gun? What will she get? ["Wat zal zij krijgen." The word 'zij' is for the word 'she' or for 'they', but they use the singular verb for 'will', therefore'she']

      —end

      In order for Joran to shoot someone back,

      he has access to guns too. Find the gun. -j4n

    18. Susan on May 22nd, 2007 12:54 pm

      Say it isn’t so??? Money laundering in Arubbish??? No freaking way!!! Illegal drugs, pimps, ho houses, murders, obstruction of justice, etc.??? Do they really have crime there???

      Please don’t hurt me, I was only kidding folks :-)

    19. Steve Holloway on May 22nd, 2007 1:07 pm

      I watched the show Wheel of forture on 5-21-07 and seen a trip to Aruba offered as a prize. This is what I wrote in there feedback.
      What would happen to your ratings if a person won the prize and came up missing in Aruba like my niece, Natalee Holloway. She was drugged and raped and has been missing and believed dead since May 31 2005. Just wanted you to know the dangers of sending someone to Aruba. At the very least, if a person gets into trouble in Aruba, the Aruba police will do next to nothing, and will do nothing if they think it will hurt the tourist industry there. God Bless Steve Holloway

    20. Vicki on May 22nd, 2007 1:12 pm

      #18- why would we hurt you? your post was great!!!!

    21. Observer on May 22nd, 2007 2:12 pm

      Minister of Sports, Culture, & Labor(Ramon Lee) who raped a woman, was accused by her to the Police, and was never even questioned.

      Minister of Justice (Rudy Croes) who brought in young girls from Santo Domingo,held them against there will and wanted to force them into prostitution with him and his friends.

      The Prime Minister of Aruba,(Nelson Oduber) paid Corrupted Lobbyist Jack Abramoff over 250 thousand dollars to put in a good word for him in the Congressional records. Oduber’s name was clearly mentioned with regards to that transaction. Since Abramaoff kept himself busy with lobbying work and found himself accused of having committed fraud, corruption and conspiracy, which he admitted to the district attorneys, and is now cooperating in the penal investigation that is going on in the U.S. Since he did the same kind of lobby work for Nelson Oduber with the same senator (Conrad Burns), for the price of 250.000 dollars.

      The paper is asking from where Nelson Oduber obtained the funds to beef himself up in the U.S.? And why was Aruban undeclared money used to pay off a corrupt person in the U.S. to speak well of the Prime Minister. The paper also asks how come Holland can tolerate for a partner of the Kingdom to pull out money from the national budget to invest in acts of bribery.

      Then the paper goes on to quote what was written about Nelson Oduber in the Congressional records, and to point out that for this small island it is a very serious matter when the Prime Minister gets himself involved, directly or indirectly, in acts of corruption and bribery just to have some good words about him placed in the records.

      Nobody is above the Law–Nelson Oduber

    22. Allan K on May 22nd, 2007 6:14 pm

      He must to have turned himself in.

    23. Susan on May 22nd, 2007 6:39 pm

      #20 – Thanks Vicki :-) Where I once posted (before the message boards were shut down, I won’t mention the website), there would have been those that would have begged to differ with you, ripping you apart, going for the juglar, etc. No matter what I had to say in regards to Aruba (which was never good), I was bashed more than Natalee and Beth were, which was alright by me coz I couldn’t stand it when the morons based either Natalee and Beth.

      #22 – Allan K, good one…lol! Since he turned himself in, the charges will probably be dropped so he can go right back at it…

      On a more serious note, the final countdown is upon us! A week from today will mark the tragic two year anniversary of Natalee’s disappearance :-( Can anyone explain what the heck the DUTCH and/or ARUBAN authorities are waiting on????

    24. Maggie on May 22nd, 2007 7:17 pm

      The Rothschilds of the Mafia on Aruba
      Tom Blickman – TNI Researcher
      Transnational Organized Crime Vol. 3, No. 2, Summer 1997

      “A magnificent washing-machine is sold here, its trademark is Aruba. The machine is an Aruban-Colombian product, its model called Cartel. The brand is well-known for its good performance in the United States and Europe. It is recommended by former ministers, members of Parliament, owners of casinos, supermarkets, cosmetics manufacturers and importers of cars and batteries. The washing-machine fits everybody who has become inexplicably rich from one day to another.”

      The MPs of the Staten van Aruba – the Aruban Parliament – must have been bewildered when one of their own ministers smeared the good name of their island. Former minister Elio Nicolaas grins when he is reminded of his speech in 1989. (1) Finally someone had thrown a rock in the silent and complacent waters of the Caribbean tax-haven Aruba – a semi-independent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “I had to react,” he says. “My own colleague, the Minister of Finance, denied money was laundered on the island.” Nicolaas knew better. Prior to his political career he had been a police officer and had actually set up the anti-narcotics squad.

      Rest of the story is on this link.

      http://www.tni.org/detail_page.phtml?page=archives_tblick_aruba

    25. Carpe Noctem on May 22nd, 2007 7:59 pm

      Nobody is above the law on that

      island except for Nelsey, Rudy, and

      anyone related to Gerold Dompig.

      Which pretty much covers every

      oxygen consuming organism

      on Aruba!

      Gerold’s mama’s nickname was

      “Dances With Poker-Hontas”

      —-

      SSSSay Nelsey, does that
      make you randy, baby?

      YEAH -j4n =)

    26. Pearl on May 22nd, 2007 8:49 pm

      #16…Observer, bulls eye.

      And Observer, since Paulus was meeting with the suspects to invent all the Holiday Inn Lies which begin to be told shortly after 3 AM in the morning on May 31, can we fairly conclude that PAULUS already knew that Natalee was missing, even BEFORE Beth rang his door bell at 3 AM in the morning on May 31? How could he conduct a meeting about WHAT LIES TO TELL, without knowing also that Natalee was missing and WHO was involved in her disappearance?
      Since the very lies of which he held his meeting begin to be told on 5/31 at 3 AM in the morning – is there any doubt as to WHEN his LIE meeting would have to have been conducted in order for the lies to be operative by 3 AM on 5/31 in the morning?

      Since the suspects begin their Holiday Inn lies in the morning of May 31, the only time Paulus could have conducted that meeting at which they made up all their lies – would have to have been BEFORE that 3 AM encounter, on May 31.

      There is such a serious corrupt cover up going on, it leaves one with no alternative than to consider Aruba a hostile environment to American tourists because of the manner in which the Twitty-Holloway family was treated with regard to the investigation into the crimes committed upon Natalee Holloway.

      Yet, when he met Beth at that 3 AM encounter,Paulus pretended to know nothing about Natalee when asked about her by Beth.

      Not only do the video surveillance tapes from the casino on 5/29 indicate that Paulus knew VERY WELL exactly WHO Natalee was, when Beth later asked Paulus about her on May 31 at 3 AM in the morning, because he was sitting right next to her at a casino only hours earlier conversing with her, but Paulus also was engaged in MEETINGS about WHAT LIES to invent in order to obstruct any investigation into finding Natalee, denying her mother any information about Natalee’s whereabouts and we know this from Deepak’s admission made to Mickey John while in jail.

      The fact that all the suspects were conducting a LIE meeting about what lies to tell polis and Beth before Beth ever arrives at the Van der Sloot household, would clearly suggest that Paulus not only knew WHO Natalee was (and lied about that), but that he also knew she was MISSING before any public information about this was released.
      We know this because of when that meeting had to have been held in order for all the lies to already be in affect by 3 AM in the morning on May 31 – exactly as Mickey John told the press publicly, following Deepak’s confession to him while in jail.

      This again – would point to direct knowledge and involvement in her disappearance on the part of ALL of them.

      This would seem to suggest two solid pieces of evidence that indicate that not only did Paulus lie about his knowledge of Natalee, but given the fact that he was involved in the masterplan of WHAT LIES to tell polis in order to obstruct any investigation into her disappearance, there is very just cause to continue to consider him, along with all the others as a prime suspect.

      Add to this the fact that the ALE had readily available to them the fact that THE SUSPECTS ALL AGREED TO GO “TO THE HOUSE”, yet – no “HOUSE” was ever searched.

      Add to this the fact that ALL the suspects LIED about WHERE they put Natalee, and this was confirmed not only by their CONFLICTING statements, but by the fact that video surveillance tapes of the Holiday Inn proved they were all lying.

      This was then CONFIRMED by HOTEL EMPLOYEES who all stated: NO SUCH GUARD AS DESCRIBED BY THE LYING “WITNESS” SUSPECTS AND NO SUCH SIGN OF NATALEE WAS EVER SEEN BY ANYONE.

      And the ALE ignored this.

      Add to this the fact that they had THE CAR right there on 5/31, and didn’t even bother looking inside of it.

      Add to this the fact that Satish was left at home in his bed, and no one bothered to awaken him to get his immediate statement.

      Does this sound like a SERIOUS INVESTIGATION to anyone here? The contempt for justice is deplorable. The lack of regard for what the Twitty Holloway family was being put through is nothing less than cruelty and mental and emotional torture.

      I cannot wait until our FBI takes over this case.
      Let the Dutch do – whatever it is they are going to do.
      The disgraceful manner in which this wonderful,good family has been treated is abominable.

      These are serious human rights violations, and this child’s story is not going to go away.

      Justice for this precious child named Natalee Holloway.

    27. mayan_moons on May 22nd, 2007 8:57 pm

      LOL Carpe you are so funny my multitalented friend!

      heres a variation to the tv ad

      “Come Die In Aruba……..arrrrreeeeeevvvvaa……undelei undelei”

    28. postahchild on May 22nd, 2007 9:01 pm

      Re #26: Pearl, we had better be pulling for the Dutch. Our FBI can’t take over this case. They don’t have any legal authority on Aruba except what the Arubans decide to give them.

    29. Carpe Noctem on May 22nd, 2007 10:18 pm
    30. Pearl on May 22nd, 2007 10:26 pm

      28…postahchild, if the Dutch investigative team is sincere, and truly interested in bringing to justice those involved in the kidnap, rape and murder of Natalee, and all crimes commmitted on her and her family following her murder, then justice will be served when they see to it that Natalee’s truth is told, and her remains are returned to her suffering family, and those contemptable individuals who took her life are held fully accountable along with ALL co-conspirators, for their criminal conduct.

      But if this is just another dog and pony show, then measures can ( I believe) be taken that would cause this case to be closed in Aruba, where the FBI can THEN take over the case. At least – this is my understanding.

      The cruelty that has been inflicted upon Natalee’s family – and Natalee would literally meet the definitions of cruel, inhumane treatment and torture. It is mind-boggling all the heartless cruelty that has been inflicted upon Beth and Dave. That alone may seal Aruba’s fate, and the only way out of what lies ahead ( imo) would be for Aruba to come clean, expose the corruption that took place, make the necessary arrests, and apologize to Natalee’s family as well as insuring that Natalee’s remains are returned and her truth told fully.

      I cannot imagine who is advising those responsible for continuing with this unbelievable, contemptable display of corruption, but whoever it is – they cannot possibly believe that continuing down this path will restore anyone’s confidence in Aruba as a safe travel destination.
      And if those responsible for allowing this display of contempt for American tourists to continue do not change course, I guarantee you, that further crippling affects will be felt by Aruba due to the fact that Natalee’s story is going to be told – one way or another.

      I have to believe that there are good people with a sense of integrity on that Dutch investigative team.
      However, if I am wrong, then I have full confidence in our FBI to honor this precious child by honoring her truth and seeking her right to justice.

      The Dutch can either become the vehicle for bringing resolution to this unjust situation, or they can dig in their heels further, and sink with Aruba’s reputation as it stands now.

      This is why, I truly do believe that if the Dutch turn out to not be sincere ( I truly hope this is not the case and am hoping that they are going to turn things around but there are certain things that have unfolded that leave me very uneasy), however, if they do not do their duty and act with integrity to restore confidence in their ability to act justly,and honor this child with a just resolution to the criminal acts that have been allowed to be executed upon her and her loving family, then it will be time for an insistence that the US FBI be allowed to take over the case, and I believe there may be measures that can be taken to insist that this occur.

      Nine days and counting.

      Justice and peace for Natalee’s family.
      They deserve it and have suffered long enough.

      Justice for Natalee Holloway.
      Honor her truth by honoring her right to a justice!

    31. serenity on May 22nd, 2007 11:14 pm

      Hi Klass,

      I was wondering if you could ask Red to add me again so I could post in the forum?

      Thank you!!

      __________________

      SM:   You will have to email him from the link here on the front page.   Let him know what nickname you want to use and he’ll get back to you with a temporary password.   Warning..he gets hundreds of emails a day so sometimes it takes a while (klaasend)

    32. katablog on May 23rd, 2007 12:48 am

      #26 Pearl: this and many more reasons is why I continue to say: the circumstantial evidence convicting these perps is overwhelming. There is no statistical way all the circumstances in this case could have just happened and Joran, Deepak, Satish and Paulus not know what happened to Natalee. I can’t say for sure that all of them know all the pieces of the puzzle but I can say there is no doubt that all of them hold far more pieces than they have told so far and all of them are guilty of either committing the crime or covering up the crime.

      Steve Holloway: Thanks for continuing to drop in. We all continue to hope and pray this nightmare will end for your family.

    33. Mark on May 23rd, 2007 4:36 am

      listen up dudes.
      Aruba is a small island that acts like an transit hub for the drugs to go to Europe and the US. If you start cutting of the needs for drugs in your own country, then you wouldnt have to have drugsmuggeling and trafficking. And yes Aruba and many other Islands in the carribean are prone for the druglords but you see without the moneylaundring going on, there wouldnt be an economy. There wouldnt be the 5 stars hotels where the american or european tourist could stay. There wouldnt be a place were americans can hide their taxdollars… ;)

    34. Richard on May 23rd, 2007 6:13 am

      There are really two questions:

      1. Are the Dutch sincere? I think so, if only because, had they wanted to not do anything, they could simply have said there was no justification for intervening.

      2. Will the Dutch find anything? As I said before, based on what has come out (which may not be everything that is going on) it seems they’re doing nothing but a Cook’s tour.

      Let’s go to the “big name” places, look around, take some photos … and move on.

      Are they calling in new people? Are they taking advantage of the MANY AMERICAN GROUPS (such as the National Sheriff’s Association, the biggest group of U.S. lawmen, who offered to send trained people to Aruba to help search)?

      The answer to the second seems to be no. We’ve heard that Texas Equusearch will be doing a final deepwater search in June … but we’ve heard that before.

      It’s possible that, with all the good will in the world, the Dutch may fail to make a case. Let’s hope they do.
      Because, in my opinion, Aruba wouldn’t cooperate with our FBI at all. I suspect that the Arubans aren’t helping the Dutch either … but I don’t know.

      Not ruling anything out.

      Meanwhile, it looks as though Aruba Tourism Authority will be in New Orleans at the end of June. The session apparently will be open only to Travelocity members; I’m trying to find out from Travelocity just what a “member” of their travel group is.

      Once I know, I’ll be posting the info and asking people to spread the word. Does anyone live in, or near, New Orleans who would be interested in standing up for Natalee?

      As always: No justice for Natalee … no tourists for Aruba.

    35. MisterM on May 23rd, 2007 8:10 am

      lots of experts, little knowledge

    36. Pearl on May 23rd, 2007 8:31 am

      Richard and Katablog, I understand why you may feel uneasy.

      However, the Dutch investigative team can either become the vehicle for TRUTH and JUSTICE, and win back some measure of confidence from the American public, or – they can choose to drown in an infestation of the most deplorable criminally corrupt conduct ever inflicted upon an American tourist and her family.

      The depravity and indifference demonstrated by officials who were TRUSTED to act with honor and integrity,along with the depraved conduct of the criminals involved in the hideous crimes executed upon Natalee is staggering.

      Like I said: THIS CHILD’S STORY IS GOING TO BE TOLD, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

      The Dutch can either choose to become part of the corruption, obstructions and lies, along with the inhumane cruelty, torment and torture inflicted upon this child and her family, or they can become heroes, and restore confidence, JUSTICE and NATALEE’S TRUTH.

      THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN.

      The Dutch investigative team can either choose to become the vehicle of truth in the TELLING OF NATALEE’S STORY,by telling the TRUTH and holding the depraved criminals responsible for what was done to her and her family, or the Dutch Investigative team WILL BECOME AN ADDED ENTITY IN NATALEE’S STORY CONCERNING ALL THE LIES, THE CORRUPTION, AND THE DEPRAVITY INFLICTED UPON THIS CHILD AND HER FAMILY.

      They can either become co-conspirators, or heroes.

      THERE IS NO IN-BETWEEN.

      WE KNOW THAT THERE IS NO LONGER ANY ROOM FOR “AN ACCIDENT” WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS BURIED, DESTROYED AND HIDEOUSLY IGNORED.

      Since we really do not know to what level they may be involving the U.S. FBI, nor any other resources, I will hold my opinion of their actions until May 31, 2007.

      EIGHT DAYS AND HOPING FOR NATALEE.

      Justice for this precious child!
      Justice for her family.

      END THE TORTURE, ARUBA.
      END THE CRIMINAL, DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE.
      END THE SAVAGERY INFLICTED UPON NATALEE’S LOVING MOTHER AND FATHER AND INFLICTED UPON THIS PRECIOUS CHILD, NATALEE!
      END THE CRIMINAL IMPRISONMENT OF THIS CHILD’S REMAINS!

      Allow this suffering and grieving family, to BURY their little girl. How much humanity does it take to accomplish that one act of MERCY and COMPASSION, ARUBA?

      Justice for Natalee Holloway!
      HONOR THIS CHILD, BY HONORING JUSTICE, HONORING TRUTH, AND ACTING WITH INTEGRITY!

      RESTORE JUSTICE, TRUTH AND HONOR IN ARUBA!

    37. Pearl on May 23rd, 2007 9:12 am

      The word knowledge has very interesting roots.

      In fact, the core of knowledge as derived from ancient times, involved a communion between the SPOKEN WORD, and ONE’S DEEDS and ACTIONS.

      An intrinsic connection was understood in the acts of knowledge.

      That’s right.
      In ancient times, knowledge was not something to be aquired and held – as though it were some separate entity from one’s actions, but rather, knowledge involved an integrity to remembering the spirit of the spoken word, the spirit of WHAT ONE KNOWS, and the valor to act with integrity to WHAT one knows IN TRUTH.

      There was no room for double-speak in ancient times, in those communities where in the act of remembering, one was compelled by honor to demonstrate behaviors that were a contract of integrity between WHAT one knows, and WHAT one does.

      We could learn a good deal from the ancient communities for whom a way of knowing, meant nothing less than remembering what one has learned by honoring that knowledge with acts of heroism, integrity and courage to that which one KNOWS.

      The seeds of Natalee’s truth, are right there before us.
      And while those with no conscience attempted to erase her body, they could not erase the knowledge she imparts for all of us right here and now…

      Her truth cannot be hidden, nor can her loving mother and father abandon her to the hands of criminals who value neither knowledge, nor hold any respect for justice or truth.

      It is perhaps poetic justice that Natalee chose lyrics from the Freebird piece, to capture the opportunity that now arises for all of us in HOW we will REMEMBER HER …

      “If I leave here now, will you remember me?”

      There can be no separation between TRUTH and HOW WE REMEMBER NATALEE, even as there can be no separation between the KNOWLEDGE of what we know of this precious little girl’s suffering and how we NOW CHOOSE TO ACT.

      There can be no knowledge in the absence of TRUTH.
      There can be no knowledge in the absence of REMEMBERING…

      This child’s voice rises even now, above the corrupt, heartless hands that tried to bury her voice.

      To have knowledge is to be enlightened not only with the TRUTH of what one knows, but to be DRIVEN WITH PASSION TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY TO WHAT ONE KNOWS.

      For Natalee…

      “Wheat From Egyptian Tombs”, by Anthony de Mello, SJ

      A handful of wheat grains was found in the tomb of one of the ancient Egyptian kings.
      Five thousand years old.
      Someone planted the grains and watered them.
      And to the amazement of all, the grains came to life and sprouted after five thousand years.

      When you are enlightened ( with knowledge), your words become like seeds,
      Full of life and energy.
      But they can remain in seed form for centuries,
      Until they are sown in a receptive fertile heart.

      Honor Natalee Holloway with RESPECT FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE!

      HONOR NATALEE HOLLOWAY WITH INTEGRITY TO KNOWLEDGE!!!

    38. Meee on May 23rd, 2007 11:50 am

      When I see the Dutch tear up Karin Janssen’s letter getting Paulus off the hook. I will believe they are doing something. Has Jossy asked why this hasn’t happened in his paper? He knows very well this letter never should have been written. But I still don’t see him questioning it. I guess when you name Janssen, Arubas Person of the Year. You can’t ask why she did such a suspicious thing to help her friend and co worker Paulus off the hook.

    39. Richard on May 23rd, 2007 12:14 pm

      OK, Vicki and I finally got through to someone. So here’s the info:

      The Aruba Tourism Authority will be taking part in a June 27-July 1 event for travel agents only at the Hilton Hotel on 2 Poydras Street (wherever that is) in New Orleans.

      The event is sponsored by http://www.vacations.com, not Travelocity. That was my misunderstanding.

      As always, VolunteersforNatalee@gmail.com is a contact address that will try to link up anyone interested.

      We confronted Aruba Tourism Authority in Boston.
      We confronted Aruba Tourism Authority in Miami.
      Now we can take them on in New Orleans.

      Stand up for Natalee!

      No justice for Natalee … no tourists for Aruba.

    40. Sebastian on May 26th, 2007 7:12 pm

      Good luck, Richard!

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