Zayn Rayyan's Mother, Ismanira, Found Guilty Of Neglect

PETALING JAYA, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- In the Sessions Court here today, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, the mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, was convicted on a charge of neglecting her six-year-old autistic son, thereby causing him physical injury two years ago.

Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh delivered the verdict after having found that the defence failed to raise a reasonable doubt against Ismanira’s case. 

On 21 July of this year, Judge Syahliza had ordered Ismanira, 30, to enter her defence after ruling that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against her.

In the same proceeding, her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, aged 30, was acquitted and discharged of the same charge.

The court is now in a brief recess for the defence and prosecution to prepare their respective submissions on mitigation and sentence.

The couple had been charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause him physical injury in the vicinity of Block R, Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai, and the nearby stream, between noon on Dec 5, 2023, and 9.55 pm the following day. 

They were charged 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 RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz and Nur Sabrina Zubairi. Ismanira was represented by counsel Haresh Mahadevan, Ramzani Idris and Lavanesh Haresh.

-- BERNAMA