The family of the late Dutch model Ivana Smit says the police have yet to reopen the case into her death despite a clear High Court order issued in July.
The family’s lawyer SN Nair said the police had failed to carry out a new probe or file progress reports as required by the court, adding that this raised “serious doubts” about the force’s will to follow the law.
He said the court had found major flaws in the first probe and ordered police to “recommence investigations” and send updates to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“This is a blatant breach of a binding court order. It is not only contempt of court, but a clear break of the rule of law and public trust,” he told FMT.
Smit, who was 18, was found dead on the sixth floor of CapSquare Residence on Dec 7, 2017, after falling from a unit on the 20th floor. The High Court ruled in 2019 that her death was caused by a “person or persons unknown”.
On July 29 this year, the court again found the police negligent and issued a mandamus for a new police investigation.
Nair urged Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail to state what steps had been taken since July, and called on home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to enforce full compliance and act against any officer who failed in their duty.
He also asked the Attorney-General’s Chambers to state that if police had filed any of the required quarterly reports, and to take action against them if not.
FMT has reached out to the police for comment.
