Local newsmen barred from visiting scene

But Dutch media allowed into condo as inquest into model’s death starts

KUALA LUMPUR: The court visit to the scene where Dutch model Ivana Esther Robert Smit was found dead last December had an unusual condition: Media members from the Netherlands were given full access while local media had restrictions imposed on them.

Two reporters from her homeland were allowed to go up to the condominium unit from which she had fallen, while reporters from The Star, Utusan Malaysia, Bernama and Free Malaysia Today were barred.

On the first day of the inquest hearing yesterday, coroner Mahyon Talib led the court staff to the scene accompanied by Deputy Public Prosecutor N. Joy Jothi, counsel Sankara Nair who is holding a watching brief for Smit’s family, a court interpreter and policemen.

They arrived at Capsquare Residences in Pesiaran CapSquare, Jalan Dang Wangi here , where Smit was last seen.

They arrived at about 1.20pm and left at 2.40pm.

Only foreign media were allowed to go up to the condominium units while local media had to wait at the lobby area.

The investigating officer said the media were not allowed to go up, saying he had received a directive.

Local media members then pointed to the two reporters from the Netherlands, and the officer said they were allowed to go up.

The inquest is being conducted to determine Smit’s cause of death. She had fallen to her death from the balcony of the condominium unit on Dec 7 last year.

Earlier, second witness Cornelius Anak Nadung testified that he went to the scene at 10pm on Dec 12 last year after receiving a directive from an investigating officer.

“I took a total of 45 photographs and among the photographs that I took was a box of sex toys and a condom located in a room,” said Cornelius.

When asked by Sankara whether the condom was a used one, Cornelius replied, “I am not sure.”

Third witness Suparman said he informed the condominium management upon seeing that the balcony railing had collapsed.

It was reported that an American businessman and his Kazakh wife were last seen with Smit.

They had met Smit at a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur in October last year, where they were introduced by a mutual acquaintance.

The inquest continues tomorrow.