THE death of a teenage Dutch model, who fell naked from a Kuala Lumpur condominium allegedly after drug-fuelled group sex, is being treated as murder, said police.

Ivana Esther Robert Smit tumbled from the 20th floor and landed on a sixth-floor balcony in December 2017.

Her death made the headlines after claims emerged that the 18-year-old model, the American living there and his Kazakh wife had consumed large quantities of drugs and alcohol, and participated in group sex.

Police at first dismissed suggestions of foul play, and a coroner earlier this year ruled that no one was criminally involved, while conceding that there was likely a struggle before Smit fell.

But Smit’s family lodged a legal challenge, and the high court last week overturned the coroner’s decision, ruling that “persons known or unknown” were involved. The court ordered a fresh probe.

Police yesterday announced that the death of Smit, who had reportedly lived in Malaysia since childhood, has been reclassified as murder, and they are reopening the investigation.

A task force will be formed for the case, said Huzir Mohamed, head of federal police’s Criminal Investigation Department.

“We will recall witnesses from whom we have taken statements, and call up witnesses who were not previously interviewed.”

Police did not say who they plan to question.

The couple linked to the case have reportedly left Malaysia. – AFP, November 28, 2019.