Van der Sloot wants to remain in Peru jail

LIMA, May 9 (UPI) -- Joran van der Sloot would rather remain in a Peruvian jail than be extradited to the United States, his attorney said.

Van der Sloot told a judge and prosecutor at an extradition hearing he wants to finish his Peruvian murder sentence before going to the United States to face charges related to the 2005 disappearance of American Natalee Holloway, CNN reported.

His attorney, Maximo Altez, said during an appearance on Tru TV's "InSession" that he expects van der Sloot "will be extradited within the next three months."

Altez said a conviction in the United States would affect van der Sloot's chances of being paroled in Peru.

Representatives from the U.S. Embassy and the FBI attended Tuesday's extradition hearing in Lima that was closed to the public.

Van der Sloot drew a 28-year jail sentence in Peru for his conviction in the 2010 slaying of 21-year-old Peruvian Stephany Flores.

He is wanted in the United States on a 2010 federal indictment charging him with attempting to extort $250,000 from Natalee Holloway's mother.

Van der Sloot is accused of offering to provide Beth Holloway with bogus information concerning the whereabouts of her daughter who disappeared on a high school graduation trip to Aruba.