Kuala Lumpur: A paediatric specialist informed the Sessions Court that Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, a six-year-old child, could only speak 30 words and was unable to form sentences. This speech limitation is not typical for a child of his age.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Bernice Lim Pei-Yi, who worked at Selayang Hospital’s Paediatric Department between 2020 and 2024, stated that she was tasked with compiling a medical report on Zayn Rayyan on December 20, 2023. Dr. Lim noted that she had not personally met the patient and relied on two hospital records for her report. The records indicated Zayn’s visits to the hospital on October 4, 2022, and September 5, 2023, where he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and recommended for therapy.
Dr. Lim, now affiliated with Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre, Klang, explained that a child like Zayn, who does not reach age-appropriate developmental milestones, would be assessed for developmental delays. The testimony was part of the trial against Zayn’s parents, Ismanira Abdul Manaf and Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, accused of neglect.
In the same court session, ASP Nor Zaharuddin Sanip, a former senior investigating officer at the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters, testified about the investigation following Zayn’s disappearance. He reported that Zayn’s mother, Ismanira, could not explain her son’s disappearance when questioned at the scene on December 5, 2023.
Nor Zaharuddin recounted arriving at the Idaman Apartment in Damansara Damai around 10 pm, where he found Insp Nina taking Ismanira’s statement. Despite his inquiries about the circumstances of the disappearance and Zayn’s interests, Ismanira provided no clear answers, prompting further questioning.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer Haresh Mahadevan, Nor Zaharuddin denied any pressure from superiors to expedite the case resolution, clarifying that his focus was solely on the search operation conducted on December 5 and 6, 2023.
Before proceedings commenced, the accused parents pleaded not guilty to an amended charge of negligence likely to cause physical injury to Zayn. The amendment specified the neglect occurred around Block R and a nearby river at Idaman Apartment.
The charge, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and Section 34 of the Penal Code, carries penalties of up to RM50,000 in fines, 20 years in prison, or both. Zayn’s body was discovered on December 6, 2023, in a stream near his apartment, with post-mortem results suggesting defensive injuries.
The trial, presided over by Judge Dr. Syahliza Warnoh, is set to continue on April 7.