
Zayn Rayyan's mum denies glazing over when questioned over missing son
PETALING JAYA : Ismanira Abdul Manaf, the mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, denied glazing over when questioned by police over the disappearance of her six-year-old son, who was later found dead.
The 30-year-old told the sessions court today she had been crying all day while searching for Zayn, who went missing at about noon on Dec 5, 2023, before investigating officer Nina Syamimi Syamsuddin arrived at her apartment at 10.30pm that day.
Ismanira's lawyer, Haresh Mahadevan, had asked her to explain the officer's claim during the defence stage of the trial.
Nina, the fourth prosecution witness, had testified in February that Ismanira had a 'glazed look' when she recorded Ismanira's statement.
Ismanira said she did not understand why Nina had described her as being expressionless.
'After my son went missing, everything felt gloomy and painful.
'I cried the entire day. She only arrived late at night. At that point, all I could think about was Zayn,' she said.
She said after failing to find Zayn that day, she filed a police report at about 4.30pm and was told to contact Nina.
The officer then instructed her to go to the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.
She arrived at 7pm but Nina phoned her to say she was attending to another case and asked her to wait.
Later, Nina allegedly told Ismanira to return home as a resident had informed police they had seen Zayn running along the apartment corridor.
Ismanira said she reached home at 8.30pm and found many people had already gathered at her apartment block to help with the search.
Earlier today, judge Syahliza Warnoh ordered Ismanira to enter her defence on a charge of neglecting her autistic son. Her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, 30, was acquitted.
Ismanira chose to testify under oath from the witness stand.
During the proceedings, the court had to stand down for about 10 minutes as Ismanira was seen sobbing when giving her testimony.
The couple had been charged last year with neglecting Zayn in a manner likely to cause him physical harm.
The alleged offence took place between noon on Dec 5, 2023, when Zayn was reported missing, and 9.55pm the following day, when his body was discovered in a stream near their home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai.
The charge is framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. Upon conviction, it carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both.
Haresh, Ramzani Idris and Lavanesh Haresh appeared for the defence, while deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Nur Sabrina Zubairi prosecuted.
The trial continues tomorrow.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Bank officer loses RM241,700 in online vehicle purchase scam, including EPF savings
KUALA TERENGGANU, July 28 — A bank officer was left devastated after losing his savings, including in the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), totalling RM241,700 to an online vehicle purchase scam. Kuala Terengganu police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the incident began last July 4 when the 52-year-old victim came across an advertisement for a used four-wheel-drive vehicle on Facebook. Intrigued by the offer, he said, the victim clicked on the link and began communicating with the alleged seller via the WhatsApp application and was then instructed to give a copy of his identity card and a sum of money as an advance payment to a representative of the suspect's company, claimed to be based in Port Klang, Selangor. 'Between July 9 to 21, the victim made 40 payments to eight different accounts totalling RM241,700. The victim began to feel cheated when asked to make an additional payment of RM31,000 supposedly for fingerprinting costs at the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM),' he said in a statement today. Azli said the victim lodged a police report at 9.37am yesterday, and the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. — Bernama


Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Four reports filed over ‘Turun Anwar' rally, police to investigate effigy caning and drone use
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Police have received four reports in connection with the rally at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday, including one case involving an effigy resembling Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim being caned near the National Mosque. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad said the remaining three reports were related to the use of drones. He said that the effigy case has been referred to the Classified Crime Investigation Unit in Bukit Aman for investigation under Section 41 of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 504 of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 'The three other reports related to drones have been forwarded to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) for further action,' he said at a press conference here today. Mohamed Usuf said that although the rally was held peacefully and with approval, police will still investigate any misconduct by rally-goers. — Bernama


Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
EAIC calls for criminal action against Immigration officers involved in illegal medical visa scheme
PUTRAJAYA, July 28 — The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) has recommended criminal action against several Immigration Department (JIM) officers found to have abused their power by illegally issuing visas for medical purposes to foreigners. The EAIC said the investigation, carried out by a Special Task Force led by EAIC Commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Razali Ab Malik, focused on the issuance of social visit passes under the medical visa category to foreigners from several countries without going through the proper process. According to the EAIC, the investigation included reviewing approval procedures, recording witness statements, seizing documents and preparing recommendations for further action by the authorities. 'The investigation found that there was abuse of power by immigration officers who approved medical visas to foreigners from several countries, despite being aware that the application documents submitted were incomplete and did not comply with the criteria under the Malaysian Immigration Circular No. 10/2001,' it said in a statement today. Following these findings, the EAIC decided to refer the case to the Attorney-General's Chambers in accordance with Paragraph 30(1)© of Act 700. The EAIC said that criminal charges have been recommended against the officers involved under the Penal Code (Act 574); the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155); and/or the Passports Act 1966 (Act 150). — Bernama