The High Court has ordered the government to pay RM1.1 million in damages to the mother of Dutch model Ivana Smit, rejecting a postponement application
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today rejected the government’s application to postpone the payment of RM1.1 million in damages to the mother of the late Dutch model Ivana Smit.
Judge Roz Mawar Rozain ordered the government to deposit the full amount, plus accrued interest, into a trust account by today.
The court also instructed the government to pay costs of RM8,000 to the plaintiff, Christina Carolina Gerarda Johanna Verstappen.
Lawyer Datuk SN Nair represented Verstappen, while federal senior counsel Siti Aishah Ramlan appeared for the government.
The lawsuit was filed against the Inspector-General of Police, investigating officer ASP Faizal Abdullah, the Home Minister, and the Malaysian government.
It alleged a breach of statutory duty and negligence in the investigation into Ivana Smit’s death.
On July 29, the court had ordered the government to pay RM500,000 in general damages, RM300,000 in aggravated damages, and RM300,000 in exemplary damages.
The court also awarded RM100,000 in costs to the plaintiff.
Judge Roz Mawar directed the IGP to remove Faizal from the task force and ordered police to reopen the investigation into the death.
Police were instructed to brief the Attorney-General’s Chambers on the investigation’s progress every three months.
Ivana Smit’s body was found on the sixth-floor balcony of a condominium on December 7, 2017.
Verstappen claimed police were negligent in failing to cordon off the crime scene and collect evidence.
She also alleged police failed to properly investigate US citizens Alex Johnson and Luna Almazkyzy, the owners of the condominium unit.
The Coroner’s Court had initially ruled the death a misadventure in March 2019.
The High Court overturned this decision in November 2019, ruling the death was caused by an unknown person or persons.
The court then ordered the Attorney General to instruct police to initiate a new investigation. – Bernama
