A police officer who investigated Zayn Rayyan Zaim Ikhwan’s murder told the sessions court here today that his investigation found elements of neglect involving the autistic child’s parents.
Hafizee Ismail, 38, previously a senior criminal investigating officer with the Petaling Jaya police, said the report lodged by the victim’s mother, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, saying she did not leave Zayn alone, did not align with police findings.
He said investigations showed that the mother had walked ahead of her son, making it impossible for her to see or supervise the child, who was walking behind her.
“The second accused, Ismanira, did not walk alongside her child but instead walked ahead, leaving the deceased behind and unable to monitor his condition. Her actions amounted to leaving Zayn unattended,” he said.
The 28th prosecution witness said this during re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin on the 20th day of the trial involving Zayn’s parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira, before sessions court judge Syahliza Warnoh.
Hafizee also disagreed with the suggestion by defence counsel Haresh Mahadevan that Ismanira’s decision to post about her son’s disappearance on social media was responsible parenting.
He noted that the post was made significantly later than the reported time of Zayn’s disappearance.
“Yesterday, the defence raised the issue regarding the 12.45pm timestamp of the social media post by the second accused, Ismanira. I do not agree with that suggestion as the announcement should have been made earlier,” said Hafizee.
“In addition, the second accused should have lodged a police report, or at least contacted the police directly, to inform them of the incident. That would have been the appropriate course of action.”
The investigating officer also denied the defence’s allegation that witnesses in the case were instructed to alter their statements.
“All the witnesses who were called were neither threatened nor coerced into giving their statements. The reason some were called multiple times was simply to verify and confirm details obtained during the investigation,” he said.
“The 27 witnesses involved are credible and the statements they provided are for the court to evaluate. My investigation concluded that there were clear elements of neglect by the accused,” he added.
Hafizee was the final prosecution witness to testify before the prosecution closed its case today.
The court fixed July 21 to deliver the decision on whether Ismanira and Zaim Ikhwan should be called to enter their defence or be acquitted of the charge of neglecting their child.
On June 13 last year, Zaim Ikhwan and Ismanira, both aged 30, pleaded not guilty to a charge of neglecting their child in a manner likely to cause physical harm.
The offence allegedly occurred at PJU Damansara Damai between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023.
They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which is punishable by a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both upon conviction.
Zayn was reported missing on Dec 5, 2023. His body was discovered in a stream near his home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai, the following day.
