Estonian model linked to Malaysian royal family found dead on same group of islands where British traveller died in mysterious circumstances a month earlier

  • Regina Soosalu was found dead on Rawa island, off coast of Malaysia
  • Treating death as murder after ‘suspicious wounds’ were found on her body
  • Today seven were arrested for questioning over her death
  • Found 20 miles from where body of Mr Huntley, 34, from London was found
  • Pathologists are now trying to establish how 23-year-old Soosalu died
  • She had set out from a resort for a stroll along the beach on July 1
By RICHARD SHEARS
PUBLISHED: 21:37 AEST, 10 July 2014 | UPDATED: 00:44 AEST, 11 July 2014
Regina Soosalu, 23, was found dead on a beach on Rawa island
Regina Soosalu, 23, was found dead on a beach on Rawa island
An Estonian model linked to Malaysian royal family has been found dead on the same group of islands where a British traveller died in mysterious circumstances a month earlier
Regina Soosalu, who uses just her surname, was found dead on a beach on Rawa island, off the south east coast of Malaysia, 20 miles from Tioman island where the body of Gareth Huntley, 34, from Cricklewood, North London, was found floating in a pond in June.
Hasnan Hassan, head of crime investigations in southern Johor state, told AFP seven people had been arrested so far for questioning over her death but declined to comment further. 
Pathologists are now trying to establish how 23-year-old Soosalu died after she had set out from a resort for a stroll along the beach on July 1.
She was initially believed to have drowned – but police said on Wednesday they had found wounds on her body and were investigating the case as murder.
The island group, a popular destination for British tourists, is gaining a reputation as a dangerous place to be, particular following the murder of a French holidaymaker, Stephanie Foray, ,30, whose partially mummified remains were found buried in a cave on Tioman island in 2011.
Just this week, 39-year-old Asni Omar was sentenced to be hanged for her murder. 
In May 2011 a group of foreign visitors were involved in a bloody brawl with bodyguards who accused them of interfering with a powerboat belonging to the Sultan of Johar on Rawa Island.
In 2005 a member of the Johor royal family was taken in for questioning after a Brazilian couple’s wedding was gatecrashed, resulting in a brawl, on Rawa Island.
Pathologists are now trying to establish how Soosalu died after she had set out from a resort for a stroll along the beach on July 1. The reported ¿strong and independent¿ model, whose face has been seen on the covers of numerous international magazines, was the girlfriend of Alang Reza Ibrahim, the son of the former Sultan of Johor
Pathologists are now trying to establish how Soosalu died after she had set out from a resort for a stroll along the beach on July 1. The model, whose face has been seen on the covers of numerous international magazines, was the girlfriend of Alang Reza Ibrahim, the son of the former Sultan of Johor
Gareth Huntley, 34, from London, was found dead last month in Malaysia 
Gareth Huntley, 34, from London, was found dead last month in Malaysia 
Now police have descended once again on Rawa as they investigate the murder of model Soosalu, a crime that has sent shock waves through the international fashion industry.
The reported ‘strong and independent’ model, whose face has been seen on the covers of numerous international magazines, was the girlfriend of Alang Reza Ibrahim, the son of the former Sultan of Johor.
The Star newspaper of Malaysia reported today that until Tuesday this week Alang had remained silent about his girlfriend’s death until he wrote on Facebook about ‘the worst tragedy’ of his life.
Saying that he was heartbroken, he wrote: ‘Regina my love has passed away on July 1, in the holy month of Ramadan.
‘She is my love, my best friend and will continue to be my inspiration for the rest of my life.
‘Her heart was filled with greatness, love, compassion, for all beings and life itself.’
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Hasnan Hassan of Johor CID told The Star that six suspects had been brought in for questioning. Asked if her boyfriend had been called in as well, Mr Hasnan told the paper that police had ‘yet to bring him in’.
A close friend of Soosalu, who asked not to be named, said: ‘She was considered as one of the top models in our industry and made a name for herself through sheer hard work. Soosalu was the best among us.’
Another friend said: ‘She was a star in the scene and her death is a loss to the industry.’