Last man seen with missing student Sudiksha Konanki fights police treatment and seeks freedom in court
CNN
A man believed to be the last person to see missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki is asking a court to grant him his freedom, challenging authorities’ treatment of him since the 20-year-old woman’s disappearance nearly two weeks ago.
A man believed to be the last person to see missing University of Pittsburgh student Sudiksha Konanki is asking a court to grant him his freedom, challenging authorities’ treatment of him since the 20-year-old woman’s disappearance nearly two weeks ago. Joshua Steven Riibe, a 22-year-old from Rock Rapids, Iowa, and a senior at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, filed a habeas corpus petition in a Dominican Republic court, claiming his rights were violated by prosecutors, police and the hotel where he was staying, according to court documents obtained by CNN. A hearing is set for 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, according to the documents. Authorities in the Dominican Republic confiscated Riibe’s passport, a source close to the investigation told CNN, and he has remained under police surveillance, even though is not considered a suspect in Konanki’s disappearance and has not been accused of wrongdoing. Dominican Republic Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso interviewed Riibe over the weekend for more than six hours, according the source. A previous statement from Riibe’s parents said their son has been taken to the police station for interrogation multiple times. Riibe’s parents also claimed he was detained “under irregular conditions” and questioned without official translators or legal counsel until March 12. Prosecutors declined comment when asked by CNN about those allegations.
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