Cops: Don’t interfere with probe into Dutch model’s death

KUALA LUMPUR: Outside parties must not influence the police investigation into the death of model Ivana Esther Robert Smit (pic) in any way, said Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim.

He said police are still analysing and scrutinising every aspect of the case, and so it is premature to conclude anything into the 19-yearold’s death.

This came as reports emerged of CCTV footage allegedly showing Smit being carried out of a nightclub by an American man just hours before her death.

“We are conducting a professional investigation. We are still waiting for a few reports for further action,” Comm Mazlan said, commenting on a report by a Dutch online newspaper that claimed the new footage had surfaced.

Lawyer Sebas Diekstra, who is helping Smit’s family find out the cause of her death on Dec 7 last year, uploaded a screenshot of the purported CCTV footage on his Twitter account.

Earlier this week, a private investigator hired by Smit’s family to look into her death said the case should be classified as murder and suggested a cover-up by local authorities.

Labelling the footage as circumstantial, Comm Mazlan said the lawyer only looked at one piece of footage, whereas the police have analysed many.

Smit fell to her death from the balcony of an apartment in Jalan Dang Wangi here.

It is believed that she was in the apartment with a couple, an American man and his Kazakhstani wife, after spending a night out with them. The couple retired to the bedroom while Smit slept in the living room.

Sometime in the night, Smit, who was naked, is believed to have stepped out onto the balcony and taken a fatal slip.