Lawyer SN Nair, who was hired by Smit’s family, said the police confirmed this to him today following a report by The Star earlier this week that journalists were barred from entering the CapSquare Residence where Smit’s body was found last December.

“I have spoken to the relevant parties involved, and they told me they made a mistake that day.

“They erroneously thought the foreign journalists were her family members,” Nair told FMT outside the Coroner’s Court here where an inquest into Smit’s death is underway.

The Star had said two reporters from the Netherlands were allowed to enter the condominium unit while its reporter as well as journalists from Bernama, Utusan Malaysia and FMT were barred by the investigating officer.

Nair told FMT that both local and foreign media representatives were banned from entering the apartment that day at the request of the building management.

Today is the second day of the eight-day inquest into Smit’s death.

Before the proceedings began, Nair apologised for the oversight on the foreign journalists and coroner Mahyon Talib accepted his apology.

Smit, 18, was found dead on the balcony of an apartment unit on the sixth floor of the CapSquare Residence on Dec 7 last year. The inquest is to determine the circumstances under which she died.

A private investigator hired by Smit’s family was previously quoted in the media as saying he was convinced she was murdered. He also accused Malaysian police of a cover-up during their initial investigation.

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