Katja Leendertz is to return to the Netherlands, a US judge ruled on Wednesday. The eight-year-old girl has been caught in a transatlantic legal battle between her father, a former Dutchman who lives in the United States, and her Ukrainian mother who currently resides in the Netherlands. The district court’s verdict contradicts an earlier ruling in the US.

Mr Leendertz, Katja’s father, caused quite a stir when he took the girl to the United States in May last year: he went to her school and took her away unannounced. The girl’s sudden disappearance set the Dutch missing children network into action, resulting in a nationwide search. It later turned out that the American authorities aided Mr Leendertz.

The incident triggered a legal battle over the child’s custody. Mr Leendertz pleaded his case in the United States and was awarded sole custody two weeks ago.

Ms Karpenko, Katja’s mother, meanwhile appealed to a Dutch court. The Dutch judge found that there was no treaty between the Netherlands and the US on child custody matters and concluded that she could not recognise an American ruling. Under Dutch law, Katja’s parents still have joint custody.

On Wednesday, a district court in Pennsylvania ruled that the manner in which Mr Leendertz took his daughter to the United States qualifies as kidnapping. Mr Leendertz is therefore to return his daughter to her mother in the Netherlands.

Katja Leendertz has an American, Dutch and Ukrainian passport. She has been living with her father in Pennsylvania the past year.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide