Latest news with #A-GC
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Ivana Smit's death: Timeline of 8-year battle ends with RM1.1mil award, fresh probe
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today awarded RM1.1 million in damages to the mother of the late Dutch model Ivana Esther Robert Smit, after ruling that the police had been negligent in handling the investigation into her daughter's death in 2017. Here is the timeline of the case: Dec 17, 2017 Smit was found dead at CapSquare Residence after being at the home of an American couple, Alexander William Johnson and Laura Almazkyzy. She had fallen from the 20th floor, and her naked body was discovered on a sixth-floor balcony at 10am. March 29, 2018 Following the incident, the couple, Alexander William Johnson and Laura Almazkyzy, were charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for drug consumption. They later left the country after the legal proceedings. Aug 8, 2018 The inquest into Smit's death officially began at the Coroner's Court in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 22 witnesses were called. March 8, 2019 Coroner Mahyon Talib ruled Ivana's death a misadventure, stating there was no evidence of foul play or criminal element. March 11, 2019 Smit's mother, Christina Carolina Gerarda Johanna Verstappen, filed an appeal against the coroner's ruling at the High Court as she believed the finding was inaccurate and failed to reflect the true circumstances of her death. Nov 22, 2019 The then High Court Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah delivered his ruling when he overturned the coroner's misadventure verdict and replaced it with a finding of "death by a person or persons unknown." He also directed the Attorney‑General's Chambers to instruct the police to reopen the investigation. Nov 20, 2020 Verstappen filed her civil lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the case's investigating officer, Assistant Superintendent Faizal Abdullah, the Home Minister, and the Malaysian government as defendants. She claimed the defendants failed to carry out their statutory duties and were negligent in their investigation into the death of her daughter. July 29, 2025 Verstappen was awarded RM1.1 million in damages after the court ruled there was negligence by the police in handling the investigation into her daughter's death in 2017. The court also ordered the police to recommence the investigation and to brief the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) every three months on the progress of the investigation. The A-GC is to determine the sufficiency of the evidence and the next course of action.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
High Court orders police to reopen investigation into Dutch model Ivana Smit's death
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has ordered the police to recommence the investigation into the death of Dutch model Ivana Esther Robert Smit, who was found dead after falling from the 20th floor of a condominium here in 2017. Judge Roz Mawar Rozain also ordered the police to brief the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) every three months on the progress of the investigation. The A-GC will determine the sufficiency of the evidence and the next course of action. Roz Mawar said this in her judgment after awarding Smit's mother RM1.1 million in damages in her suit against the Inspector-General of Police, the investigating officer and the government today. She said police had been negligent in their investigation and had failed to comply with a 2019 High Court order to properly reinvestigate the case. In 2019, then High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah had directed the A-GC to order the police to investigate the cause of Ivana's death, after setting aside the inquest verdict that classified her death as a 'misadventure' and reclassifying it as death caused by a person or persons known or unknown.
![[UPDATED] High Court orders police to reopen investigation into Dutch model Ivana Smit's death](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FKL_HIGH_COURT290725_1753762806.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] High Court orders police to reopen investigation into Dutch model Ivana Smit's death
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has ordered the police to recommence the investigation into the death of Dutch model Ivana Esther Robert Smit, who was found dead after falling from the 20th floor of a condominium here in 2017. Judge Roz Mawar Rozain also ordered the police to brief the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) every three months on the progress of the investigation. The A-GC is to determine the sufficiency of the evidence and the next course of action. Roz Mawar said this in her judgment after awarding Smit's mother, Christina Carolina Gerarda Johanna Verstappen, RM1.1 million in damages against the Inspector-General of Police, the case's investigating officer, and the government. She said police had been negligent in their investigation and had failed to comply with a 2019 High Court order to properly reinvestigate the case. In 2019, then High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah directed A-GC to order the police to investigate the cause of Ivana's death, after setting aside the inquest verdict that classified her death as a 'misadventure' and reclassifying it as death caused by a person or persons known or unknown. She said the 2019 High Court order was clear and straightforward, as it directed the case to be reclassified as a death caused by person or persons unknown and required the A-GC to instruct the police to reopen the investigation as a murder case. Roz Mawar said following the previous High Court order, the police had established a specialised task force to re-investigate the case. "This court observes that the defendants failed to ensure the effective operation and accountability of this investigative mechanism. "The evidence indicates that the task force did not produce substantive results or provide meaningful updates to the interested parties, particularly the plaintiff and the deceased's family. "The court recognises that investigations may take time to yield results, but the apparent lack of transparency and accountability in the task force's operations, combined with the absence of any demonstrable progress or communication, suggests a failure to properly manage and execute the reinvestigation mandate. "This conduct, when viewed alongside the earlier investigative deficiencies, demonstrates a pattern of deficient performance of statutory duties that has resulted in prejudice to the plaintiff's legitimate interests in obtaining closure and understanding regarding her daughter's tragic death," she said in her judgment today. However, Roz Mawar stressed that her findings should not be seen as a criticism of the police force as a whole. She said the judgment highlights specific institutional failures that need to be addressed, rather than casting blame on the entire force. "The awards are meant to serve both compensatory and deterrent purposes, underscoring the need for public authorities to carry out their duties with proper diligence and accountability." Smit, who was at the home of American couple Alexander William Johnson and Laura Almazkyzy, was allegedly partying with the couple before she fell to her death. She fell from the 20th floor, and her naked body was found on a sixth-floor balcony at 10am. Smit, who had dual Dutch and Belgian citizenship, was the second runner-up in the Malaysia Supermodel Search 2014 when she was 15.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
A-G to look into court decision on influencer's false report case
KOTA BARU: The Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) will look into the decision by the Muar magistrate's court to sentence a social media influencer and his brother to one month in jail and a RM1,500 fine for lodging a false police report over his disappearance. Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar confirmed the matter when asked to comment on public dissatisfaction, with many saying the punishment handed down by the court was too lenient. However, Dusuki said he could not comment further as the decision fell under the court's jurisdiction. "Nonetheless, we will review the decision," he said at a press conference after launching the Santuni Madani: One Leader, One Village programme by the A-GC at SK Pulai Chondong here today. It was reported yesterday that influencer Tengku Nizaruddin Tengku Zainudin, 38, also known as Ija, and his brother Tengku Abdul Aziz, 30, were each sentenced to one month in jail and fined RM1,500 by the magistrate's court in Muar, Johor. The sentence was handed down after both pleaded guilty to lodging a false report over the influencer's disappearance in Sungai Tui, Bukit Kepong. The court also ruled that Tengku Nizaruddin could face an additional three months' imprisonment and Tengku Abdul Aziz six months, should they fail to pay the fine. Following the court's decision, many expressed dissatisfaction, saying the sentence was too lenient considering the influencer's actions had caused the Fire and Rescue Department to launch a search operation and remain stationed at the location in search of him.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Civil servants advised not to join opposition-led rally, says A-G
KOTA BARU: The Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) has advised civil servants not to join the Pas-led rally taking place in Kuala Lumpur today. Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said civil servants should set a good example for the country. "As stated in our previous statement, civil servants are advised not to take part in the rally as it violates the code of conduct and discipline required of civil servants. "However, for those who do take part, it is up to their respective department heads to take action. "As for the public, as mentioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, every individual has the right to assemble, but within certain limits. "It is best to do so peacefully," he said after launching the Santuni Madani: One Leader, One Village programme by the A-GC at SK Pulai Chondong here today. It was previously reported that the police had said that they would ensure the opposition-led rally at Dataran Merdeka today proceeds smoothly and in a safe manner. Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail was quoted as saying that the police respect the people's right to voice their opinions and assemble peacefully, in line with democratic values espoused in the Federal Constitution. A total of 16 roads in Kuala Lumpur are expected to be affected by traffic diversions following the rally.
