30/07/2025

WEDNESDAY | JULY 30, 2025 5 Mother of model awarded RM1m in damages KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has awarded RM1.1 million in damages to the mother of Dutch model Ivana Esther Robert Smit, whose nude body was found on the sixth-floor balcony of a condominium here eight years ago. Christina Carolina Gerarda Johanna Verstappen had sued the IGP, Dang Wangi investigating officer ASP Faizal Abdullah, the home minister and the government for alleged breach of statutory duties and negligence in the probe into the cause of her daughter’s death. In her judgment yesterday, judge Roz Mawar Rozain ordered the defendants to pay RM500,000 in general damages, RM300,000 in aggravated damages and RM300,000 in exemplary damages to Verstappen. The defendants were also ordered to pay RM100,000 in costs to the plaintiff. Roz Mawar ordered the IGP to remove Faizal from the current task force investigating the case while police were ordered to recommence investigations relating to Ivana Smit’s death as per a 2019 High Court order. “Police are directed to brief the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) every three months from the date of this judgment on the updates of investigations and the AGC is to deliver on the sufficiency of evidence and the next step forward.” Roz Mawar ruled that there were breaches of the duty of care by the defendants and crime scene management failures. She said the court also found that there was misfeasance in public office, which involves the improper performance of a lawful act, and concluded that the investigation failed to employ advanced forensic methodologies that could have provided crucial temporal insights into the trauma suffered by the deceased. In the suit filed on Nov 20, 2020, Verstappen claimed that her daughter was found dead on the sixth floor of CapSquare Residence on Dec 7, 2017 after falling from the 20th floor of a condominium unit owned by American couple Alex Johnson and Luna Almazkyzy. She said police had committed negligence when they failed to cordon off the crime scene or conduct a proper investigation against Johnson and Almazkyzy, and failed to detain, extradite and secure the duo’s attendance during the inquest as key witnesses. On March 18, 2019, the Coroner’s Court ruled that the death was caused by a “misadventure”. Not satisfied with the coroner’s verdict, Verstappen appealed to the Kuala Lumpur High Court and on Nov 22, 2019, judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah set aside the coroner’s verdict and replaced it with a verdict of “death by a person or persons unknown”. Verstappen’s counsel Datuk Sankara Nair said the court has rightly and courageously addressed the negligence, misfeasance, malfeasance and non-feasance in the handling of the investigation into Ivana Smit’s death. “After more than eight years of grief, unanswered questions and unrelenting legal struggle, justice has finally prevailed, not only for Ivana and her family, but also for the rule of law in Malaysia.” – Bernama

‘Tech poses challenges in litigation of child porn cases’

o Prosecution often hampered by masking mechanisms, tampered or encrypted evidence: MP

sexualised advertisements involving children on digital platforms. “These ads are becoming increasingly common and may appeal to children’s curiosity. Such ads could disturb the public and have a severely negative impact on moral values and mental health,” he said, urging stronger prevention strategies and AI tools to wipe out online pornographic content. He added that MCMC works closely with police to monitor, block and remove such exploitative materials. “Enforcement is done under various laws, including the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said. Shamsul confirmed that both measures are being pursued. The Malaysia Internet Crime Against Children Unit, under Bukit Aman’s Women and Child Investigation Division, has been operational since 2013 and covers 11 departments nationwide. Each state has at least one dedicated investigator and 31 Child Interview Centres are in place across the country. “The Home Ministry is reviewing laws to close any loopholes, especially in relation to digital material. We cannot remain stagnant. The law must evolve as digital threats do.”

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

continuing,” he said. He added that despite advances in digital forensics and the ability to trace IP addresses and user identities, prosecution is often hampered by offenders who use masking technologies, such as VPNs, and by tampered or encrypted evidence. “We also deal with encrypted or manipulated evidence, making forensic verification more difficult.” He said delays in cooperation from international platform providers and the complexities of cross-border evidence gathering further obstruct investigations. Enhancing collaboration with CyberSecurity Malaysia, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the National Digital Department is vital to meet these challenges, he added. “We will strengthen our capabilities and improve digital forensic training to respond to these evolving cyber threats.” Jerlun MP Abd Ghani (PN-PAS) raised concerns about the increasing presence of

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 287 child pornography cases were probed by police between 2021 and 2025, with 90% resulting in prosecution and conviction, Lenggong MP Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (PH-PKR) told Dewan Rakyat yesterday. The Home deputy minister warned that while this high conviction rate reflects police commitment, emerging digital threats, including AI-generated abuse content, are undermining efforts to bring offenders to justice. “These manipulated materials weaken evidential value in court,” he said, referring to digitally fabricated images and videos made to appear authentic. “These offences involve children. We take this very seriously. But this responsibility does not fall on police alone. “We hope society would also help raise awareness and prevent these crimes from KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 171 foreign nationals were detained by the Immigration Department for various offences during an operation in Jalan Masjid India yesterday. The nearly two-hour raid, led by Putrajaya Immigration Enforcement Division director Basri Othman, involved 160 officers who inspected 14 premises to ensure employers only hired foreigners with valid work permits. The operation followed public complaints and intelligence gathering. “This is part of the department’s approach to educate the public to only hire approved foreign workers who possess valid work passes,” said Basri. “Out of 758 foreigners screened, 171 were found to have violated immigration regulations.” Offences included overstaying, not possessing valid documents, violating visit pass conditions and carrying unrecognised identification cards. He said some tried to flee or obstruct officers during the 12pm raid, which was hampered by heavy rain. “Those without valid permits pretended to be customers to avoid detection. Some even tried to stop officers from conducting inspections,” he said, adding that personnel had been stationed in the area since 10am. Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Immigration Department detains 171 foreigners in raid

Basri said the operation was part of the department’s approach to educate the public to only hire approved foreign workers who possess valid work passes. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

“We warn employers to only hire foreign workers with valid permits. Those who violate the law will be brought to court.” He said this was the second operation in Jalan Masjid India this year, with more such raids expected.

Most detainees were from India and Bangladesh, with a few from Indonesia. Basri urged undocumented migrants to take advantage of the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0, which has been extended until April 30 next year.

Drug syndicate using cars as mobile stores busted by police KUCHING: A tactic by a drug trafficking syndicate of using cars as “mobile stores” to deliver supplies to buyers was foiled by police in a special operation conducted in Kota Sentosa on July 19. Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk to the arrest of two local men, aged 25 and 27, in a car. He said to avoid being detected by authorities, the syndicate, which is believed to have been active since the beginning of this year, would leave vehicles containing drugs unlocked at certain locations, allowing buyers to collect supplies themselves without any physical interaction. brown boxes containing 80 packages marked “Guan Yin Wang”, containing crystal lumps suspected of being syabu (methamphetamine). “The total seizure is estimated to weigh 83kg, with a market value of around RM3.07 million. Police also seized cash amounting to RM1,100 under the Dangerous Drugs

related to gambling and providing false information. “The suspects were remanded from July 21 to 27 to facilitate further investigations.” He said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and not less than 12 strokes of the cane if convicted. – Bernama

conference here on Monday. Hussein said initial investigations found that the syndicate obtained drug supplies from Peninsular Malaysia via air routes, to be marketed in Sarawak and Kalimantan, Indonesia. “Initial urine screening found that one of the suspects tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine while the other has three criminal records

Hussein Omar Khan said the raid conducted by the Bukit Aman Narcotics Department and Sarawak Narcotics Department at 8.50pm led

(Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, making the total seizure worth RM3.072 million,” he said at a press

“The results of an inspection of the vehicle found a black bag and three