PETALING JAYA, Oct 31 — The Sessions Court today found Ismanira Abdul Manaf guilty of neglecting her six-year-old autistic son, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, in a manner likely to cause physical harm in December 2023.
Judge Syahliza Warnoh ruled that the defence had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
The court found that Ismanira failed to ensure proper supervision of the boy between noon on December 5 and 9.55pm on December 6, 2023, at an apartment in Damansara Damai.
Zayn Rayyan, who was autistic and required close care, was later found dead near a stream close to the apartment complex.
The court has adjourned proceedings temporarily following a defence application to prepare mitigation submissions in support of a reduced sentence.
“After hearing the testimony of the defence witnesses and re-evaluating the testimony of the prosecution witnesses, as well as examining all exhibits and submissions by both parties, the court finds that the defence has failed to raise any reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
“Therefore, the court rules that the prosecution has successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused for the charge in this case,” Syahliza said while delivering the verdict.
Accordingly, she said the court’s grounds for this decision are, among others, based on the Child Act 2001, which does not provide a specific definition of the term “neglect” under Section 31(1)(a).
“In this regard, the court is not bound by interpretations from any organisations or bodies’ psychological perspectives.
“Whether the conduct of the accused constituted neglect must be determined based on the facts and evidence in each case,” she said.
Regarding the second defence — that the accused did not neglect the deceased as walking behind the accused was the child’s fixed and unchangeable routine — Syahliza said the court found that this defence contradicted the accused’s own testimony as well as that of the defence witnesses.
“The court finds that walking behind the accused was not a fixed or rigid routine of the deceased.
“The court also finds that the testimony of the second defence witness on this point was opinion-based and not conclusive, as the assessment of the child’s behaviour relied solely on information provided by the accused.
“Thirdly, with respect to the defence that the accused was supervising the deceased, the court finds that on the day of the incident, the accused allowed the deceased to walk behind without proper supervision, which led to the deceased going missing,” she said.
In December 2023, six-year-old Zayn Rayyan reportedly went missing from his home at Idaman Apartment, Damansara Damai.
He was reported missing on December 5 and his body was found the next day in a stream near his residence.
A post-mortem revealed signs consistent with strangulation, prompting a murder investigation by the authorities.
On June 13, 2024, Zayn Rayyan’s parents — Ismanira and his father, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari — were charged at the Sessions Court here with neglect under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, namely neglecting the child in a manner likely to cause physical or emotional injury.
Zaim was later acquitted after the court ruled that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against him, while Ismanira’s trial proceeded.
Medical testimony during the trial revealed that Zayn Rayyan had significant speech and language delays and required specialised support.
Throughout the investigation, police received new leads and a reward was offered for information.
The case has drawn wide public interest — touching on issues of care for children with special needs, parental responsibility, child protection laws, and the safety of housing environments.
