A man who investigators believe was the last person to see missing US college student Sudiksha Konanki alive appeared in a Dominican Republic court Tuesday to ask it to grant him freedom, arguing Dominican authorities have inappropriately restricted his movements without charges after the 20-year-old woman’s disappearance.

Joshua Riibe's return to the U.S. remains unclear as there was no immediate decision about returning his passport, which authorities confiscated last week.

The parents of missing student Sudiksha Konanki say that police believe she drowned and that police told them that Joshua Riibe, 22, is not a suspect.