04-24-2012, 05:53 AM
(CNN) -- The process to extradite Joran van der Sloot from Peru to the United States to face criminal charges has begun, according to Maximo Altez, van der Sloot's Peruvian attorney.
Peruvian judges in January sentenced the Dutchman to 28 years in prison for the murder in 2010 of Stephany Flores. He is also the prime suspect in the disappearance of American Natalee Holloway. U.S. authorities want to try van der Sloot on charges of extortion and wire fraud in the Holloway case.
According to court documents obtained through Altez, a Peruvian judge has approved a U.S. request for provisional detention. This is the first step in the extradition process between Peru and the United States. The document says a formal extradition request has yet to be submitted, but will follow.
The document names the U.S. Embassy as a party in the proceedings. InSession reached out Monday for comment but did not receive a response. The Peruvian Justice Ministry also did not return a request for comment.
The only hold-up to the extradition is van der Sloot's appeal, which should be finished in about a month, Altez said.
While he faces another 28 years behind bars in Peru, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway may be freed just long enough to face trial in the U.S.
Joran van der Sloot is one step closer to being carted to the United States in an extradition that could bring him face-to-face with Ms Holloway's mother, seven years after 18-year-old Natalee vanished in Aruba.
But legal hurdles - including van der Sloot’s appeal for his Peru murder conviction - will keep the process from going through immediately.
Van der Sloot’s lawyer Maximo Altez told CNN: 'I think he will be extradited within the next three months'.
Mr Altez added that if van der Sloot is convicted in America, he will be returned to Peru to serve out the remainder of his sentence there, and then shipped back to the U.S. to serve whatever sentence he may receive in the extortion case.
![[Image: article-0-0F72E15E00000578-533_634x421.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/13/article-0-0F72E15E00000578-533_634x421.jpg)
Peruvian judges in January sentenced the Dutchman to 28 years in prison for the murder in 2010 of Stephany Flores. He is also the prime suspect in the disappearance of American Natalee Holloway. U.S. authorities want to try van der Sloot on charges of extortion and wire fraud in the Holloway case.
According to court documents obtained through Altez, a Peruvian judge has approved a U.S. request for provisional detention. This is the first step in the extradition process between Peru and the United States. The document says a formal extradition request has yet to be submitted, but will follow.
The document names the U.S. Embassy as a party in the proceedings. InSession reached out Monday for comment but did not receive a response. The Peruvian Justice Ministry also did not return a request for comment.
The only hold-up to the extradition is van der Sloot's appeal, which should be finished in about a month, Altez said.
While he faces another 28 years behind bars in Peru, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway may be freed just long enough to face trial in the U.S.
Joran van der Sloot is one step closer to being carted to the United States in an extradition that could bring him face-to-face with Ms Holloway's mother, seven years after 18-year-old Natalee vanished in Aruba.
But legal hurdles - including van der Sloot’s appeal for his Peru murder conviction - will keep the process from going through immediately.
Van der Sloot’s lawyer Maximo Altez told CNN: 'I think he will be extradited within the next three months'.
Mr Altez added that if van der Sloot is convicted in America, he will be returned to Peru to serve out the remainder of his sentence there, and then shipped back to the U.S. to serve whatever sentence he may receive in the extortion case.