No witness testified parents neglected Zayn Rayyan: Investigating officer

A police investigating officer told the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today that none of the 27 prosecution witnesses had stated that the parents of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin had ever neglected the autistic child two years ago.

Hafizee Ismail, 38, who served as the senior investigating officer at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters at the time, was cross-examined by defence counsel Haresh Mahadevan on the 19th day of the trial of Ismanira Abdul Manaf and Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, who were charged with child neglect, before judge Syahliza Warnoh.

Hafizee, who is now with the Operations Intelligence Unit at the Klang Selatan Criminal Investigation Division, also agreed with the counsel’s suggestion that, based on the medical report, Zayn was neither abused nor neglected.

Haresh: Are you aware that out of the 27 prosecution witnesses who have testified, not a single one stated in court that they saw either the first accused (Zaim) or the second accused (Ismanira), or both, neglecting Zayn on Dec 5 and 6, 2023?

Hafizee: I am not sure.

Haresh: Based on your investigation, which witness stated this? Do you know?

Hafizee: None.

The 28th prosecution witness also agreed that none of the 27 prosecution witnesses who had testified in court had seen either of the accused by the stream near Block R of the Idaman Apartment in Damansara Damai, the site where Zayn’s body was found.

Haresh: Of the 27 prosecution witnesses who have testified, which witness saw both accused near the stream?

Hafizee: None.

Parents deny neglect

On June 13 last year, Zaim and Ismanira, both aged 30, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to a charge of neglecting their six-year-old autistic son in a manner likely to cause physical harm.

The offence allegedly occurred along PJU Damansara Damai between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023.

They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which is punishable by a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both.

Zayn was reported missing on Dec 5, 2023, and his body was discovered in a stream near his home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai, the following day.

He was believed to have been murdered, and an autopsy revealed injuries to his neck and body, consistent with self-defence.

- Bernama

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