Loved ones seeking justice for dead teenager.
The family of Ivana Esther Robert Smit is offering a US$50,000 (RM198,725) reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Dutch model’s death.
Netherlands news portal NL Times reported that Sebas Diekstra, the lawyer representing the family, said that the next of kin found that there was too little progress in the case, which prompted them to take this step.
“The relatives hope that the amount (of the reward) is large enough to persuade people with useful information, who have hitherto been silent, to come forward,” the lawyer was quoted as saying on Monday (June 4).
“If more than one individual provides information that is instrumental in an arrest and conviction, the reward will be divided equally among verified individuals,” the family said.
“The reward will stand until a conviction is evident.”
Earlier, the family had also sought Interpol’s aid to investigate her death.
Last December, 19-year-old Smit fell from the 20th floor of Capsquare Residence in Jalan Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur, and landed on a balcony on the sixth floor.
It is believed that Smit was in the condominium of American businessman Alex Johnson, 44, and his wife Luna, 31, after spending a night out with them.
The Johnsons have admitted to having a threesome with the teenager on the night itself and also months before her death.
Malaysian police have classified the case as sudden death pending the results of the post-mortem and pathology tests.
Dutch news outlets have quoted Ivana’s father Marcel Smit as saying that the family believes his daughter was pushed and alleged there were bruise marks on her neck that showed someone had grabbed her there.
“Ivana had significant head bruising and multiple bruises on her arms, and the bruises happened before she fell,” her family claimed.
A private investigator hired by Smit’s family to look into her death said the case should be classified as murder.
Earlier reports:
Apr 2, Husband and Wife Admit to Threesome with Dead Dutch Model
Mar 9, Dutch Model Might Have Been Dead Before Fall from Balcony, Says PI
Feb 8, Footage Allegedly of Dutch Model Being Carried Out of KL Club Emerges
Feb 6, Private Detective Says Naked Dutch Teen Model’s Fall No Accident
Dec 29, Dutch Autopsies Show Injuries on Teen Model Inconsistent with Fall
Dec 20, Late Dutch Model’s Father Hospitalised, Police Investigation Ongoing
Dec 15, Seeking Justice for Dutch Model and the Truth of Her Death
Dec 12, Father of Dutch Model Suspects Foul Play in Her Death, Interpol to Investigate