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Steve Cohen: “I’d have to say that our confidence level is not at the highest level” (Natalee Holloway Investigation)
January 3rd, 2006
‘Rita Cosby Live & Direct’ for January 2, 2006

SM: Only a very short time ago Steve Cohen was heard to be saying the following to Rita Cosby:

"It is expected that he will be re-questioned somewhere in the next 10-day period. I doubt that they will bring him back for questioning immediately, but it will be in that period. And also, it is expected the Kalpoes will also be brought in for questioning."

SM: Twelve days later looks like Steve Cohen has another story to tell. This time not so optimistic and much different.

"Well, I have to say, I really think, you know, we all misjudged the process, that we were very enthusiastic at that stage in the investigation we’d be able to get this piece done and moved forward."

"No. I’d have to say that our confidence level is not at the highest level.""

SM: One of the most amazing comments to come out of this case after seven months, “we all misjudged the process”. This coming from the Special Consultant to the Aruban Government who has access to the ALE and Prosecutors Office. All these connections and they “all misjudged the process”.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE COHEN, SPECIAL ADVISER TO ARUBAN GOVERNMENT: It is expected that he will be re-questioned somewhere in the next 10-day period. I doubt that they will bring him back for questioning immediately. But it will be in that period. And also, it is expected that the Kalpoes will also be brought in for questioning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSBY: Well, you just heard it. Almost two weeks ago, LIVE & DIRECT broke the news that the three key suspects in the Natalee Holloway case would be brought back in for questioning.

Well, here it is, 13 days later. Joran Van Der Sloot and Deepak and Satish Kalpoe still have not answered to Aruban police and prosecutors again. So what’s the hold up?

LIVE & DIRECT tonight is Steve Cohen. He’s a special adviser to the Aruban government. He’s the man who told us that the three suspects would be re-questioned by December 31st.

Steve, before we get to you, I want to show what Natalee Holloway’s stepmother, Robin Holloway, told us about her conversation that she had with the Aruban prosecutors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBIN HOLLOWAY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY’S STEPMOTHER: She said that that was misinformation, that the judge, when he released them, it was unconditional that they were unable to re-question them without them being brought in voluntarily, because they were released by the judge and they were unable to interrogate them again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSBY: So, Steve, what’s the hold up? What’s the discrepancy?

COHEN: Well, Ms. Holloway’s right. The voluntary nature of the Dutch law exists because, if there’s no new evidence that’s presented or no new re-arrests, the attorneys have the opportunity to voluntary decide to come in or not.

The truth is, at the end of the year, we were very enthusiastic that this process would not take a long time. So what’s transpired is that the prosecutors have sent letters to each of the attorneys requesting that their clients, Joran and the Kalpoes, come forward for re-questioning.

I do want to add though, Rita, that no one really thought the re-questioning itself was going to be a break in the case. It’s only, you know, one piece of the case that the prosecutor’s trying to put together. And, of course, she’s not going to reveal new evidence at this stage either. She wants to withhold that until she gets closer.

COSBY: But how long could this take now? I mean, what are we talking about time-wise? Because as you pointed out, you know, you seemed pretty confident it was going to happen. Are we talking months? Are we talking weeks?

COHEN: Well, I have to say, I really think, you know, we all misjudged the process, that we were very enthusiastic at that stage in the investigation we’d be able to get this piece done and moved forward.

Rita, I don’t want to put a time line on it. I don’t think we want to get caught saying that it’s 10 days or 13 days.

COSBY: Is there a possibly, Steve, that they could say, “Look, it’s voluntary.” Heck, why would they go in? You know, I mean, are you confident that they will go in at all?

COHEN: No. I’d have to say that our confidence level is not at the highest level.

COSBY: So what changed it? Because there certainly seemed to be a level of confidence. Did all of a sudden the attorneys say, “You know what? We thought about it. Forget it. Why would we put our clients in that kind of jeopardy?”

COHEN: Yes, I think what’s happened here is what you would expect in any system, Dutch or U.S., which is that the attorneys have said, “Let’s give this thoughtful consideration. What do they have that we don’t know about?” We go in there thinking we’re going to talk about the general scope of the case, and they’re going to ask us questions that we just can’t answer.

COSBY: But didn’t they know that going in?

COHEN: Of course, that’s what we hope will happen.

COSBY: But didn’t they know that going in, Steve? I mean, come on.

COHEN: Well, I think they—it’s plausible that they knew that going in. But, I mean, you know, this is a cat-and-mouse game between the suspects, between their attorneys and the prosecutor’s office. This is not something that’s uncommon. The prosecutor is very skilled in this area, though, I must add, and I think that she will prevail.

COSBY: Let’s hope so. Steve Cohen, thank you very much. Always good to have you on. We appreciate it.

COHEN: Thank you.