About the Natalee Holloway case.

New arrest in Aruba missing teen case
Authorities take fourth man into custody
Friday, June 17, 2005 Posted: 11:32 AM EDT (1532 GMT)

Natalee Holloway was last seen Monday, May 30.

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (CNN) -- Aruban authorities said Friday they had made a new arrest in connection with Natalee Holloway's disappearance, bringing the number of men in custody to four.

A prosecutor's spokeswoman identified the man arrested Friday only by his initials, S.G.C., in keeping with Aruban law. She said he was born July 21, 1978.

Police arrested him at 6:25 a.m., and were still searching his home several hours later, said police commissioner Jan Van Der Straten.

He said the 26-year-old's name was given by one of the three suspects in custody.

Police are holding Joran Van Der Sloot, 17, Deepak Kalpoe, 21, and his brother Satish Kalpoe, 18. They were arrested June 9.

Holloway was last reported seen around 1:30 a.m. on May 30, when she left the nightclub Carlos'N Charlie's with the three young men.

Authorities have found no trace of her, despite a massive search. (Full story)

No charges have been filed against the three, and defense attorneys for each have said they maintain their innocence.

Prosecutors planned to argue Friday that they need to keep the three in custody for further questioning. Under Aruban law, prosecutors can ask judges to approve three eight-day extensions, followed by one 60-day extension and then one 30-day extension.

Suspects may be held up to 116 days -- and in rare cases even longer -- before formal charges are filed, said prosecutor's spokeswoman Mariaine Croes

On Wednesday, authorities searched Van Der Sloot's home, seizing two cars and removing bagfuls of evidence.

Van Der Sloot's father is awaiting a ruling on his petition to see his son, which is required under Dutch law since Van Der Sloot is a minor. Aruba is part of the Netherlands.

Two hotel guards were arrested early in the investigation, but were released on Monday. They were never charged. (Full story)

CNN's Karl Penhaul contributed to this report.



*This case is looking stranger than ever. I wonder why the Arubian authorities kept arresting people but cannot produce a body. I hope that I'm wrong, but after so many days, there's serious doubt that Ms. Holloway is still alive and well. It could be the case that Arubian investigative techniques are to arrest first and then gather evidence, but the fact that her wherabouts are still unknown is very unsettling.