Latest news with #IsmaniraAbdulManaf
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Parents' neglect led to Zayn Rayyan's injuries, death, says prosecution
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf are charged with neglecting their son, Zayn Rayyan, between noon on Dec 5,2023 and 9.55pm the following day. PETALING JAYA : Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan's parents must enter their defence on a child neglect charge, as the autistic boy sustained injuries which led to his death after being left alone for a prolonged period, according to prosecutors. In written submissions filed at the close of their case, prosecutors said the law did not require them to prove that Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf had intended for the boy to suffer any injury. 'Circumstantial evidence led through prosecution witnesses showed that the parents had exposed their child to injuries while he was under their care,' read the submissions, sighted by FMT. In her police report, Ismanira had said she was heading home on Dec 5, 2023 together with Zayn, who was behind her. The mother claimed she was carrying Zayn's schoolbag and some grocery items she had purchased at the time. The boy's mother said she turned around when she could no longer hear his footsteps, only to realise that he was missing. According to the submissions, two child witnesses testified to seeing Zayn run alone towards an orchard near the Idaman Apartment around noon that day. Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan. Meanwhile, another witness, Rashidah Rajali, who was about to send her child to school, said she chanced upon Ismanira going upstairs to her apartment. According to Rashidah, Ismanira came down again at about 12.35pm. She said Ismanira showed no motherly reaction to the loss of the special needs child at the time. 'One thing is apparent—that Ismanira was wearing a different tudung (headscarf) and attire when the witness met her again 20 minutes later,' the submissions read. The prosecution said Ismanira only informed Zayn's disappearance to his babysitter, Auni Afiqah Abas, about an hour after the child had gone missing. They said medical officer Dr Siti Ramlah Abdullah testified that an autistic child requires a higher degree of care compared to a normal child. Prosecutors also pointed to evidence that Zayn was unaccompanied when seen near the orchard. 'The mother was not there to prevent Zayn from going to the orchard,' the submissions read. It said all the evidence, when pieced together, led to the conclusion Zayn was neglected the moment he was left to walk behind Ismanira, who paid no attention to him. 'The mother only cared about herself as she left the groceries in the house before looking for her son. Her conduct was captured on a closed-circuit television in the apartment,' they said. What is even more heartbreaking is that the mother did not appear to panic or show anxiety, the submissions added. 'There was not a single prosecution witness who heard her scream or call out the victim's name. Instead, she chose to go to her apartment to change her outfit and then came back as if nothing had happened.' The prosecution said parents had a legal and moral responsibility to care, protect and ensure the safety of the child. 'Therefore, we submit that the couple had a common intention to commit the crime,' the submissions read, adding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against both accused. Ismanira and Zaim, both 30, are charged with neglecting Zayn in a manner likely to cause the boy physical harm between Block R of Apartmen Idaman in Damansara Damai and a nearby area, from noon on Dec 5 to 9.55pm the following day. They are charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both upon conviction. Zayn's body was found in a stream near his home on Dec 6, 2023, a day after he was reported missing. Deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Nur Sabrina Zubairi are prosecuting while lawyers Haresh Mahadevan, Ramzani Idris and H Lavanesh are appearing for the couple. Trial judge Syaliza Warnoh will deliver her decision on July 21.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Rumah Bonda founder's final appeal against 12-year sentence in child abuse case set for August 14
PUTRAJAYA, June 3 — The Court of Appeal has set August 14 to hear the final appeal by the founder of the shelter home, Rumah Bonda, against her conviction and 12-year sentence for the neglect and abuse of Bella, a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome. On the same day, the court will also hear Siti Bainun Ahd Razali's application to adduce new evidence in her appeal. Her lawyer, Haijan Omar, confirmed the hearing date to Bernama following the case management before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Nurul Nadia Azman today. Siti Bainun, 33, is seeking to adduce fresh evidence in the form of a police report linked to Ismanira Abdul Manaf, the mother of autistic boy, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, who was reported missing before his body was found at a stream in Damansara Damai in December 2023. The evidence is based on allegations regarding this case in a police report made by Ismanira on July 25, last year. Siti Bainun is also seeking permission to summon Ismanira to give further evidence, as well as to allow her to recall a prosecution witness for further examination about the police report. Ismanira and her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, are currently on trial in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for charges of neglecting their autistic son, with the ruling scheduled on July 21. On May 3, 2023, the Sessions Court sentenced Siti Bainun to 12 years' imprisonment after finding her guilty of two charges of neglect and abuse of Bella. The court rejected her application for a stay of execution pending appeal, and she was immediately sent to Kajang Prison to begin serving her sentence. In addition to her prison term, the court ordered Siti Bainun to sign a five-year good behaviour bond with one surety and a RM5,000 deposit and perform 200 hours of community service within six months of her release from prison. The High Court upheld her conviction and sentence on May 2, 2024. Siti Bainun was charged with neglect and abuse, causing physical and emotional injury to the victim at a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
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.
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Prosecution closes case in Zayn Rayyan child neglect trial
The body of six-year-old Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan was found in a stream near his home on Dec 6, 2023, one day after he was reported missing. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : The prosecution today closed its case in the Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan child neglect trial following a 20-day hearing that began on Feb 4. The prosecution called 28 witnesses, the last being investigating officer Hafizee Ismail, in its bid to establish a prima facie case against the boy's parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf. Deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin informed trial judge Syahliza Warnoh that the prosecution would be offering 23 witnesses whom it did not call to testify to the couple's defence team. Lawyer Haresh Mahadevan said the defence had already identified seven people to take the stand. Syahliza then directed parties to file written submissions on May 23 and their respective replies by June 6. 'I will deliver my decision on July 21,' she said. Syahliza also said the defence would have to begin its case on the same day if she ruled that a prima facie case had been established. She also fixed July 22 and 23 as well as another five days beginning Aug 4 for the trial to continue. Earlier today, Hafizee denied under cross-examination that he had briefed Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Shuhaily Zain that the victim's body had defensive wounds. 'It (the information) could have come from other members of the investigating team,' he said. Haresh then referred the witness to a Dec 7, 2023 online media report where Shuhaily told a news conference that there were defensive wounds on Zayn Rayyan's body, which contradicted a post-mortem report prepared by forensics expert Dr Rohayu Shahar Adnan. Haresh: Is Shuhaily's statement to the media a contradiction of the report? Hafizee: Yes, based on the post-mortem report. The witness said Shuhaily could have briefed the media based on a preliminary report. Ismanira and Zaim Ikhwan, both aged 30, are charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause physical injury to the victim near Block R of Apartment Idaman in Damansara Damai and a nearby river between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023. They are charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of RM50,000, or both upon conviction. Zayn Rayyan's body was found in a stream near his home on Dec 6, 2023, a day after he was reported missing.
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Siti Bainun seeks to use police report by Zayn Rayyan's mother in appeal
Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali has filed a motion in the Court of Appeal seeking to introduce a police report lodged by Ismanira Abdul Manaf as fresh evidence in her appeal. PUTRAJAYA : Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali is seeking to introduce a police report filed by Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan's mother as fresh evidence in her appeal against her conviction for the neglect and abuse of a teenager with Down syndrome. Counsel Haijan Omar, representing Siti Bainun, informed a three-member Court of Appeal panel that his client's notice of motion seeks permission to introduce a police report made by Ismanira Abdul Manaf on July 25 last year. The report was lodged two months after the High Court upheld Siti Bainun's 12-year prison sentence on May 2, 2024 for neglecting and abusing 13-year-old Bella in 2021. Haijan said his client only became aware of the police report on March 24 this year. 'Our application also seeks permission to call Ismanira and the fifth prosecution witness in connection with the report,' he told the court. In response, deputy public prosecutor Asmah Musa told the panel that the police were currently investigating the matter and the prosecution was awaiting the outcome of those investigations. The details of the report were not revealed in court today. Justice Azman Abdullah, chairing the appeals panel, fixed June 3 for case management. Also on the bench were Justices Azmi Ariffin and Choo Kah Sing. Outside the courtroom, Haijan told reporters that Ismanira's report contained an allegation against a witness in Bella's case. Ismanira and her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, are currently on trial for allegedly neglecting their son Zayn Rayyan. His body was discovered in a stream near their home on December 6, 2023, a day after he was reported missing. On May 3, 2023, sessions court judge Izralizam Sanusi sentenced Siti Bainun to 12 years' imprisonment and dismissed her application for a stay of execution. Siti Bainun was also ordered to sign a RM5,000 good behaviour bond for five years with one surety, and to perform 200 hours of community service within six months of her release.
