PETALING JAYA, June 13 — The parents of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin were charged in the Sessions Court today with negligence, which potentially caused physical injury to the autistic child in December last year.
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, both aged 29, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them before judge Syahliza Warnoh.
According to the charges, the couple were jointly accused of neglecting their six-year-old son Zayn Rayyan, potentially causing him physical injury.
The offence allegedly took place around Damansara Damai between 12pm on December 5 and 9.55pm on December 6.
The charges were brought under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the same act, which provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
Before the charges were read, the court interpreter asked both defendants if they were in good health. Zaim Ikhwan said he was healthy, while Ismanira reported feeling unwell and suffering bouts of vomiting.
Deputy public prosecutors Ku Hayati Ku Haron and Ahmad Zuhaini Mahamad Amin appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers Fahmi Abd Moin and Mahmud Jumaat represented Zaim Ikhwan and Ismanira, respectively.
Both the accused claimed trial.
Ku Hayati offered bail at RM15,000 each, with additional conditions that they surrender their passports to the court and report to a police station every month.
However, Fahmi appealed for a bail of RM5,000, saying it was solely for the accused’s court appearances, and agreed to the additional conditions.
“My client (Zaim Ikhwan) is cooperating fully with the police.
“I believe this court can balance the principles between public interest and our client’s welfare. If they cannot afford bail, they will have to stay in jail. They will attend court without fail,” he said.
Mahmud requested a lower bail for Ismanira as well on the grounds she is unemployed and dealing with severe depression.
He said she also has to care for her second child, who has a severe speech delay and autism, which requires continuous treatment.
Mahmud said Zaim Ikhwan is also undergoing treatment for severe depression and is working to support the family, while emphasising both accused are not flight risks.
“My client also requests the MyKid of their other child, currently held by police, be returned to the family for treatment purposes,” said the lawyer.
Ku Hayati acknowledged the seriousness of the charges, noting that negligence had led to the victim’s death.
Both lawyers requested a gag order to prevent public statements about the case.
Syahliza subsequently allowed bail at RM10,000 each with one surety, agreeing to the additional conditions of reporting monthly to a nearby police station and ensuring neither accused nor their representatives tamper with prosecution witnesses until the case concludes.
“The court only approves the gag order for parties involved in this case, and the MyKid of the defendants’ other child will be returned to family members,” said Syahliza, who scheduled July 26 for case mention.
On December 6, Zayn Rayyan’s body was found in a stream near his Idaman Apartments home in Damansara Damai here, a day after he was reported missing.
The child is believed to have been murdered, as the autopsy revealed self-defence injuries on his body.
The child’s parents, who were detained around Puncak Alam on May 31, were remanded for 13 days from June 1 to assist in the investigation of the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
— Bernama
