The family of a Japanese female student who went missing in 2016 in France welcomed the Chilean top court's decision on Monday to grant the extradition of the suspect to French authorities, expressing hope that the move will lead to a breakthrough in solving the case.

The family of Narumi Kurosaki, a student from Japan's University of Tsukuba, said they hope the suspect will tell the truth about the incident, according to their lawyer Sylvie Galley.

French authorities suspect that Nicolas Zepeda Contreras, 29, murdered Kurosaki, whose whereabouts have been unknown since she dined with Zepeda and returned with him to the dorm of her university in Besancon, eastern France, on Dec. 4, 2016. She was 21 years old at the time.

(Photo taken Jan. 3, 2017, shows an emergency exit at a dormitory of the University of Franche-Comte in Besancon, eastern France, where Narumi Kurosaki, a 21-year-old Japanese woman, lived until she disappeared in early December 2016. Local media reported that some blood stains were found near the exit)

In its final decision Monday to grant the extradition request, the supreme court said there was enough evidence against Zepeda.

Chilean prosecutors said they have informed France about the decision and are now preparing to extradite Zepeda. Transfers usually take about two months, but the suspect's arrival in France could be delayed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

"I am very pleased with the decision," a French prosecutor said, according to French media. "This will now allow a trial with the suspect present."

French officials are expected to visit Chile for the extradition of the suspect. Chilean prosecutors on Monday asked the top court to consider tightening the suspect's current terms of release, under which he is required to visit a police station near his residence once a week, in order to prevent his possible escape.

Shortly after Kurosaki went missing, Zepeda returned to his native Chile. Kurosaki's body has not been found and Zepeda has denied killing her.

In April, the top court ruled in favor of allowing the suspect's extradition, and Zepeda appealed the court's decision.

The appeal was handled by a different bench of the top court.

The defense argued that a murder case could not be established without the body of the victim, but the court said it was up to the French court to determine the verdict for Zepeda.