19-05-2025
No witness testified seeing Zayn Rayyan neglected, court hears
Ismanira Abdul Manaf and Zaim Ikhwan Zahari are accused of neglecting their autistic son, Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan, and if found guilty, face a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : The Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan child neglect trial heard today that none of the 27 prosecution witnesses had stated that they had seen the autistic boy's parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, neglecting him two years ago.
Hafizee Ismail, 38, who was the senior investigating officer at the time, was cross-examined by defence counsel Haresh Mahadevan before sessions court judge Syahliza Warnoh, Bernama reported.
Hafizee, who now serves in the operations intelligence unit at the Klang Selatan criminal investigation division, agreed with the counsel's suggestion that Zayn Rayyan was neither abused nor neglected, according to the medical report.
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 Ikhwan) or the second accused (Ismanira), or both, neglecting Zayn Rayyan 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.
Further cross-examination revealed that none of the witnesses had seen the accused near the stream where Zayn Rayyan's body was found near Block R of Apartment Idaman in Damansara Damai.
Haresh: Of the 27 prosecution witnesses who have testified, which witness saw both accused near the stream?
Hafizee: None.
On June 13 last year, Zaim Ikhwan and Ismanira, both 30, pleaded not guilty to a charge of neglecting their six-year-old autistic son in a manner likely to cause physical harm.
The offence is alleged to have occurred at PJU Damansara Damai between noon on Dec 5 – when the boy was said to have gone missing – and 9.55pm the following day, when his body was discovered in a stream near his home.
The charge, framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, is punishable with a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
The boy was believed to have been murdered after an autopsy revealed injuries to his neck and body.
