Malaysia Courts Order RM1.3 Million Compensation Over Custodial Suicide, Dutch Model Death Probes

Malaysian courts have ruled against the government in two significant cases involving deaths under suspicious circumstances, highlighting serious negligence by law enforcement and investigative bodies. The Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the government to pay RM194,170 to the family of M. Thinagaran, who died by suicide in custody, citing failures in supervision and unsafe detention conditions. In a separate case, the government was ordered to pay over 224,000 euros (approximately RM1.1 million) to the family of Dutch model Ivana Smit after a flawed and negligent investigation into her death, which was initially misclassified as a suicide despite evidence suggesting possible murder and sexual assault. Justice Roz Mawar Rozain condemned the handling of Smit's case as a profound failure of Malaysia's law enforcement, noting mishandling of the crime scene, loss of evidence, and disregard for expert testimony. The courts emphasized the lack of transparency, accountability, and proper investigative procedures by the police, including failure to preserve critical evidence and inadequate communication with the victims' families. These rulings underscore systemic issues in Malaysia's justice and investigative processes, with international implications given Smit's nationality and Interpol's involvement in the ongoing investigation.