“Person of interest,” Joshua Riibe's lawyers demand that he be released from custody in the Dominican Republic as the search for the US tourist continues. UU. Sudiksha Konanki.
Konanki, a 20 -year -old student at Pittsburgh University and an Indian citizen, disappeared before dawn on March 6 in the tourist city of Punta Cana.
Surveillance footage De Konanki showed the lost arm student with Riibe, while two women walked behind them when they left the Riu Republica hotel and headed towards the beach. Riibe, 22, has now been “confined” to the hotel in Punta Cana, where he was last seen with Konanki before she disappeared.
It is believed that Riibe, who has not been accused of any crime, is the last person to see Konanki before his disappearance.
According to the departure of the Dominican Republic, news SIN, Riibe's lawyers have Filed a request for habeas corpus Looking for the launch of your client. On Tuesday a hearing will be held in relation to the request of Riibe's lawyers, The Outlet reported.
Riibe was also seen with researchers and his lawyer on a beach in Punta Cana on Sunday. It was seen pointing to the sea While a group of security officials kept the people away from the area, according to NBC News.
His passport was seized by the authorities on March 14 as part of the ongoing investigation.
“The police permanently escort him wherever he goes,” said the law firm with the law firm, adding that “he is not free to leave.”
“I'm just trying to help them,” Riibe said in reference to the search for Konanki authorities. “The ocean is a dangerous place.”
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Riibe's parents have accused Dominican officials of stopping him “in irregular conditions” without translators or legal advisor, saying that he has been confined to a hotel room with police surveillance for more than a week.
They said that Riibe, a last year student at the University of St. Cloud, has been repeatedly taken to the police station and interrogated, added that he has “fully cooperated” with the police.
Subbarayudu and Sreedavi Konanki, the parents of the missing student of the University of Pittsburgh, now ask the Dominican Police a statement of death almost two weeks after she disappeared from the resort in Punta Cana.
The spokesman of the National Police of the Dominican Republic, Diego Pesqueira, said on Monday that Konanki's family sent a letter “requesting the declaration of death.”
The letter, seen by Global News, said that the family made the request “after a lot of deliberation” and thanked supporters for their international search efforts.
“After an extensive search, the Dominican authorities have concluded that it is believed that Sudiksha drown,” their parents wrote in a letter to the National Police. “His clothes was discovered on a beach near where he was last seen. The individual seen for the last time with her is cooperating with the investigation, and no evidence of dirty game has been found.
“We understand that certain legal procedures must be followed and are prepared to comply with the necessary formalities or documentation.
“Starting this process will allow our family to start the grieving process and address issues related to their absence.”
“While no statement can really relieve our pain, we trust that this step will bring a closure and will allow us to honor your memory.”
Konanki's parents flew to Punta Cana with two friends from the family after learning about their daughter's disappearance. Subbarayudu and a family friend presented a complaint record on March 9, asking the authorities to expand the investigation.
The complaint pointed out that the student's belongings, including his phone and his wallet, stayed with his friends, “which is unusual because he always wore his phone with her.”
“In the light of these circumstances, I respectfully request that the authorities take immediate measures to investigate not only the possibility of accidental drowning, but also the possibility of a dirty kidnapping or game,” he wrote, according to WTOP-FM.
Earlier this month, Konaki's father wanted local authorities “to also investigate other possibilities, even if it is a case of kidnapping or trafficking in persons.”
“We do not believe that she can survive for more than three days in the water and I think something else could have happened to her,” he added.
– With Associated Press files
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