Oranjestad, Aruba – Two Surinamese brothers who had been detained and released in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway were arrested again Friday based on new evidence, officials said.
Satish and Deepak Kalpoe were arrested after authorities uncovered “new facts and circumstances” in the investigation of Holloway’s disappearance May 30, the prosecutor’s office said.
The brothers were detained on suspicion of involvement, with unidentified “other people,” in premeditated murder and rape, the prosecutor’s office said.
To arrest them again, “there had to be new facts and circumstances. That is the case,” the statement said. Authorities declined to comment further.
The prosecutor’s office also said the brothers were suspected of other offenses but did not provide details. No information was disclosed about a third man who authorities said was arrested Friday with the Kalpoes.
Satish, 18, and Deepak, 21, were released from jail in July after a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to hold them in the disappearance of the 18- year-old American, who vanished on the final night of a high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island.
Earlier, a lawyer for Satish Kalpoe said authorities had not disclosed why the brothers had been arrested again.
“They haven’t shown us any evidence,” Elgin Zeppenveldt told reporters outside a court where they were to appear before a judge.
The brothers were first arrested June 9 along with Joran van der Sloot, 18, who authorities have identified as a suspect in the case.
Members of Holloway’s family said they were pleased about the arrests.
“We haven’t been told why, but I think it’s obvious,” Natalee’s stepmother, Robin Holloway, said by phone from Meridian, Miss. “We’ve known all along they had something to do with Natalee’s disappearance.”
