The judge makes a ruling in case the last person sees a missing university student

A judge of the Dominican Republic has officially failed to close the case of the key witness in the Spring Vacation Disappearance of the student of the University of Pittsburgh Sudikasha Konanki.

On Friday, Judge Edwin Rijo issued the complete written sentence detailing the legal reasoning behind his decision to grant habeas corpus presented on behalf of Joshua Steven Ribe, 22, officially concluding the case against him.

The detailed trial does not constitute a new decision, it is read in the statement, as the original ruling, announced at the end of the hearing on March 17, was immediately valid and enforceable.

A Judge of the Dominican Republic He ruled in favor of Riibe’s writing of Habeas Corpus, giving him the ability to move freely within the country until his audience of March 28.

Lack of American in the Dominican Republic: the key witness Joshua Riibe leaves the country

Riibe had been hidden in the RIU Republic under strict police monitoring for 11 days before a judge ruled the situation violated the Dominican law. Their restrictions also included that their cell phone and passport confiscan.

Riibe’s lawyers successfully argued in the Court that, as a witness, not suspicious, police control over their movements during a period of 11 days was illegal.

“On March 18, after the conclusion of the Habeas Corpus hearing that ordered the release of our client, Joshua Riib, the Office of the Administration of the Altagracia informed him of his preparation to return his passport,” Riibe’s lawyers said. “While Joshua appreciated this decision, he chose, for privacy reasons, to request a new passport at the United States Consulate, which was quickly issued.

It is believed that Riibe is one of the last people who saw Konanki, 20, before disappearing in the early hours of the morning of March 6 From the beach Behind its complex, the Riu Republica in Punta Cana.

American university student seen in new hotel security images before the disappearance

The surveillance video shows that he and Konanki went to the beach with a group around 4:15 am, the morning that disappeared. Most of them were seen leaving around 6 AM Riibe and Konanki remained on the beach. Riibe returned only hours later, and Konanki’s whereabouts is still unknown almost two weeks later.

According to a filtered transcription of an interview with the Police, Riibe He told researchers He and Konanki were far from the shore by a strong current, and fought to return. He saw her for the last time walking in water to the knees before vomiting and falling asleep in a beach chair.

The disappearance of the American university student Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic: Timeline

His parents, in a letter to the Dominican authorities, asked that he be declared dead on Monday, March 17, citing the lack of dirty game evidence and Riibe’s continuous cooperation with the researchers.

“Our company remains committed to defending due process and constitutional guarantees established by virtue of article 69 of our Constitution,” a Guzmán Ariza representative shared in a press release. “This ruling reinforces these fundamental principles and strengthens confidence in the justice system of the Dominican Republic.”

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“This favorable result was achieved through the dedication and tireless efforts of our legal team. Guzmán Ariza remains firm in its commitment to defend the rule of law, ensuring that foreign citizens and citizens can rely on the protection of their fundamental rights in the Dominican Republic.”

Michael Ruiz, Greg Wehner, Mara Robles and Bryan Fulls contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price is a writer of Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers issues that include missing persons, homicides, national cases of crimes, illegal immigration and more. The advice and ideas of history can be sent to stepny.price@fox.com