Kidnapping of Santiago: detained in the Netherlands, his mother should be handed over to French authorities next week

The mother of Santiago, a baby born extremely premature in Paris and found in an Amsterdam hotel last Friday, should be handed over to the French authorities next week, according to the Amsterdam court. The request for an accelerated procedure concerning Santiago's mother “has been accepted. It should be handed over next week,” a spokeswoman for the Amsterdam court, where the young woman is currently detained, told AFP.

Concerning the father of the child, he “opted for the long procedure and the request for surrender will be processed during a public hearing of the International Legal Assistance Chamber at a later date” explained the court spokesperson . The date of this hearing is not yet known. Short procedures are typically evaluated within 10 days by the council chambers of the Amsterdam court, with the hearing taking place behind closed doors. “In the long procedure, the case will be examined within 60 to 90 days by the International Judicial Assistance Chamber (IRK) of the Amsterdam court,” said the spokesperson. The exact date of Santiago's mother's extradition to France is not yet known to the court.

The parents accept their extradition

As a reminder, Cristina N., 25 years old, and Kevin D., 23 years old, suspected of having kidnapped their son Santiago from the neonatology department of the Robert-Ballanger hospital in the Paris region. They were arrested in a hotel in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on October 25. Since then, they have been in pre-trial detention awaiting the court's decision.

On Monday October 28, the Amsterdam District Court informed the couple of their European arrest warrants. During this formal hearing, they were asked if they accepted their extradition to France. Both parents had given their consent, thus paving the way for a rapid procedure. In France, the investigation will be handled by two investigating judges from Bobigny, responsible for shedding light on the motivations of the parents in this kidnapping.