I see that you and I agree on one thing.
Yes, the bribe tab would be truly astronomical, and could only be necessitated by the need for coverup of drug transshipment from Columbia and Venezuela, and subsequent money laundering thru Aruba's casinos and banks.
The vice can of worms in Aruba has no limits.
Perhaps, but not all of the corruption / sting pulling needed to be done for money. The father of Joran Van Der Sloot was best friends with the chief of police. In my opinion, the only reasonable conclusion is that the chief deliberately lead the investigation a stray during the first ten days to provide cover up time. Some money may have changed hands, but more likely PVDS knows of other wrong doings in Aruba and their is a lot of mutual interest in protecting PVDS and his son. This pattern could have been repeated again and again on this corrupt island.