Peru denies that Joran van der Sloot was beaten in prison

() — Peru’s National Penitentiary Institute has denied ABC News reports that Joran van der Sloot – the main suspect in the 2005 disappearance of American teenager Natalee Holloway – was “severely” beaten in a Peruvian prison.

In a statement sent to E late this Monday, a spokesman for the Peruvian National Penitentiary Institute said that “He [Van der Sloot] he was not hit. He wasn’t attacked.”

The spokesman had no further comment.

Earlier Monday, ABC News reported that Van der Sloot’s lawyer, Máximo Altez, said he was “severely beaten” in jail, and that he is “asking the Peruvian Ministry of Justice to transfer him to another prison as soon as possible.” possible”.

has reached out to Altez for comment and has yet to hear back.