Latest news with #ChildAct2001
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Someone must have grabbed him, Zayn Rayyan's mother tells court
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.
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Cops pressured me to confess I killed my son, Zayn Rayyan's mum tells court
PETALING JAYA: The police pressured me to confess that I killed my son, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin's mother told the Sessions Court on Tuesday (July 22). Ismanira Abdul Manaf said this when giving her statement during the second day of her defence trial. Sinar Harian reported that when questioned by lawyer Haresh Mahadevan, she said that she expressed her dissatisfaction over the ordeal to a magistrate. "I said that I did not consent to being brought forward to the magistrate because I had been forced and threatened. "The magistrate then accepted my pleas of not guilty then," she said. She added that she had been kept at a safe house for 13 days alone in Petaling Jaya and that she was questioned by the Selangor police contigent's Special Branch. "I was investigated from 9am to 6pm by the same officer," she said, adding that she cooperated with the police. When asked by the lawyer if the police were satisfied with her cooperation, she said that they were and added that they created a story of her guilt. "The police created this story that I was the one who found Zayn Rayyan and accused me of killing my own son but when I denied doing so, they were unsatisfied," she said. She also said that she had sought justice and brought the matter up to the magistrate when she was brought forward to extend her remand period. On Monday (July 21), Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh ordered Ismanira to enter her defence after the prosecution successfully established a prima facie case against her, while her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, 30, was discharged and acquitted of the same charge. They were charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause him physical harm, at or around Block R, Idaman Apartments in Damansara Damai, extending to a nearby river area, between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
‘I never left Zayn Rayyan alone,' says mother
PETALING JAYA: The mother of the Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin told the Sessions Court here Tuesday (July 22) that she never left her child alone, except during working hours and school sessions. "Never, not even once. I was the one who carried, gave birth to, and raised Zayn (Zayn Rayyan). Throughout his life, I was only ever separated from him during my working hours and when he was at school. "I never left Zayn alone or neglected him," said Ismanira Abdul Manaf, the first defence witness during the examination-in-chief by her lawyer Haresh Mahadevan on the second day of the defence proceedings in the child neglect case involving her autistic son. Ismanira, 30, firmly denied that she neglected Zayn Rayyan, as alleged in the charge brought against her. "I was not at Block R the entire time, and I never went near the river area as alleged. I genuinely lost my child on that day (Dec 5, 2023), and it was not a case of neglect," she said. Yesterday, Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh ordered Ismanira to enter her defence after the prosecution successfully established a prima facie case against her, while her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, 30, was discharged and acquitted of the same charge. They were charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause him physical harm, at or around Block R, Idaman Apartments in Damansara Damai, extending to a nearby river area, between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction. - Bernama
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Mother denies neglecting Zayn Rayyan in court testimony
PETALING JAYA: The mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, the autistic boy whose death sparked national attention, testified in court that she never left her son unattended. Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 30, firmly denied allegations of neglect during the defence proceedings at the Sessions Court. 'Never, not even once. I was the one who carried, gave birth to, and raised Zayn. Throughout his life, I was only ever separated from him during my working hours and when he was at school,' said Ismanira. Her lawyer, Haresh Mahadevan, led the examination-in-chief as she countered the prosecution's claims. The charge under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 alleges that Ismanira and her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, neglected Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause physical harm. The incident reportedly occurred near Block R of Idaman Apartments in Damansara Damai between December 5 and 6, 2023. Zaim Ikhwan was earlier acquitted, while Ismanira was ordered to enter her defence. 'I was not at Block R the entire time, and I never went near the river area as alleged. I genuinely lost my child on that day, and it was not a case of neglect,' she stressed. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a RM50,000 fine, or both. - Bernama
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
New SOPs for community service enforcement by local authorities
KUALA LUMPUR: The Local Government Department (JKT) will introduce standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide local authorities (PBTs) in enforcing court-ordered community service sentences for littering offenders. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced the move following the passage of the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat. Nga stressed the importance of capacity building for PBT officers, particularly when handling young offenders. 'They must fully understand not only the provisions under the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) but also the Child Act 2001 (Act 611), which has been taken into account in the ministry's implementation plan to ensure effective legal enforcement,' he said during the debate. The Bill, passed by a majority voice vote, introduces a new Subsection 104A(1), allowing courts to mandate up to 12 hours of community service for by-law violators alongside fines. Subsection 104A(3) authorises PBT officers to set the time and location for the service, while Subsection 104A(8) ensures that offenders under 18 are treated under Act 611 provisions. To strengthen enforcement, the ministry plans to increase the number of authorised PBT officers and improve inter-agency collaboration. 'Modern technology and efficient resource management will also be prioritised,' Nga added. The Dewan Rakyat sitting resumes tomorrow. - Bernama
