Joran van der Sloot, the main suspect in the 2005 disappearance of American teen Natalee Holloway, was allegedly beaten in a Peruvian prison over the weekend, according to his attorney, who is pleading for improved protection for his client.

Van der Sloot, 36, is detained at Challapalca Maximum Security Prison in Lima, Peru. He is set to be extradited to the United States in relation to Holloway’s 2005 disappearance while on a final trip with her high school in Aruba.

Van der Sloot, a Dutch citizen, has been accused of collecting $25,000 from Holloway’s family as a down payment for the incorrect location of her remains despite never having been charged with her disappearance. Additionally, he is charged with wire fraud and extortion in the Northern District of Alabama.

A Peruvian court gave Van der Sloot a 28-year prison term for killing Stephany Flores in Lima in 2010—exactly five years after Holloway vanished.

Van der Sloot’s attorney, Maximo Altez, alleged in a complaint submitted on Monday that his client got into a fight with another prisoner over the weekend and asked to be transferred to a different wing of the facility.

“Given Joran Van der Sloot’s public profile, there is legitimate concern regarding his safety inside the prison,” Altez wrote. “It is necessary to ensure that he is not a victim of violence, assaults or any form of abuse by other inmates.” 

“It is essential to remember that all people, regardless of their background or crimes committed, they have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. The rehabilitation and reintegration into society are important objectives of the system prison, and providing a safe and secure environment is critical to achieving these ends.”

The Peruvian authorities declared earlier this month that van der Sloot might be extradited to the US. Previously, an Interpol representative told Fox News Digital that the extradition shouldn’t take place later than June 8 or June 9.