Malaysia court overturns RM1.1m award to Ivana Smit’s mother

Malaysia’s Court of Appeal overturned a RM1.1 million award to Ivana Smit’s mother over the police investigation into Smit’s death.

The High Court had awarded the damages and ordered changes to police oversight; the appeal court set aside those orders.

The judges said police do not owe relatives a private legal duty of care in how they conduct criminal investigations.

Smit, an 18-year-old Dutch model, was found dead in a Kuala Lumpur condominium in 2017, and her death was later reclassified as caused by person or persons unknown.

The appeal court noted serious lapses in the initial investigation, but said those concerns could not override legal rules on civil liability.

It said police must continue investigating and update the family; Smit’s mother’s lawyer said the family would consider seeking permission to appeal to the Federal Court.