Someone must have grabbed him, Zayn Rayyan's mother tells court

The Star

22-07-2025

PETALING JAYA: The mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin told the Sessions Court here on Tuesday (July 22) that she suspected the autistic child had been grabbed or abducted by someone on Dec 5, 2023.
Ismanira Abdul Manaf made the statement while testifying on the second day of her defence trial for a charge of neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause physical injury.
She gave evidence before Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh, according to a report by Sinar Harian.
During cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, the 30-year-old said she believed this to be the case because she did not hear the footsteps of the late Zayn while he was supposedly walking up to the second floor of Block R, Pangsapuri Idaman, in Damansara Damai.
The first defence witness agreed with the prosecution's suggestion that, logically, one would have heard running footsteps if the special needs child had been grabbed or taken.
Prosecutor: I put it to you that during the incident, in fact, no one was grabbed or abducted. Agree?
Ismanira: Disagree.
Prosecutor: Logically, you would have seen Zayn Rayyan behind you or seen him being grabbed – but you told the court you kept looking back at him.
Ismanira: I did look back at Zayn Rayyan, but not at all times, as I was using my senses to monitor him.
Prosecutor: Wouldn't it be clearer if you had used your sight rather than hearing?
Ismanira: Agree.
Prosecutor: Do you agree that relying on hearing is not an accurate method of supervision, especially when monitoring a special needs child like Zayn Rayyan?
The mother of two responded that she did not agree.
Ismanira, who works as an accounts clerk, also denied a prosecution suggestion that she had left Zayn alone at the playground and returned home by herself.
Her lawyer Haresh Mahadevan objected to the line of questioning, arguing that the narrative of Zayn being left alone at the playground had never been raised by prosecution witnesses.
Raja Zaizul Faridah responded that the fourth prosecution witness, former investigating officer Inspector Nina Syamimi Syamsuddin from Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters, had stated this in a previous hearing.
'She was their witness, so the defence may re-examine her. At this point, I am fulfilling my duty as the prosecution during cross-examination,' she said.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Judge Syahliza recorded all objections but allowed the prosecution to proceed with the question.
The trial will continue on Wednesday.
According to the amended charge, Ismanira is accused of having custody of six-year-old Zayn Rayyan and neglecting him in a manner likely to cause physical injury.
The offence was allegedly committed in the area of Block R, Pangsapuri Idaman, Damansara Damai, up to a nearby river, between noon on Dec 5, 2023 and 9.55pm the following day.
She is charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and faces a penalty under Section 31(1) of the same Act, which provides for a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
On Dec 6, 2023, Zayn Rayyan was found dead in a stream near Pangsapuri Idaman at around 10pm.
He had earlier been reported missing and was discovered lying approximately 200 metres from his residential block.