Court acquits father, but tells mother to answer for Zayn Rayyan's death
Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh made the decision after finding that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against Zaim Ikhwan, 30, at the end of the prosecution case.
However, the court ordered Zayn Rayyan's mother, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 30, to enter her defence on the same charge.
Zaim Ikhwan and Ismanira were charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause physical harm to the victim in the vicinity of Block R, Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai up to the nearby river area between 12 noon on Dec 5 to 9.55 pm on Dec 6 2023.
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, the father of deceased autistic six-year old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, is pictured at the Petaling Jaya Session Court on July 21,2025. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment or a fine of RM50,000 or both, if convicted.
Judge Syahliza in her summary judgment said that after examining the evidence of the prosecution witnesses in maximum assessment as well as the arguments of the prosecution and defence, the court found that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against Zaim Ikhwan at the end of the prosecution case.
'Therefore, the first accused (Zaim Ikhwan) is discharged and acquitted while for the second accused (Ismanira), the court finds that the prosecution has succeeded in proving a prima facie case against the second accused and she is called to defend herself in accordance with Section 31(1)(a) of the Children's Act 2001,' said the judge.
Ismanira, who gave her defence statement today, chose to give her statement under oath from the witness stand. — Bernama
MORE TO COME
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Multiple allegations against Penang doctor show lack of effective action, says women's group
The Women's Centre for Change (WCC) is appalled by the lack of effective action by authorities against a Penang medical officer who has now been arrested for the fourth time in a string of alleged sexual offences or indecent behaviour towards female patients. Despite three prior arrests in February and March 2025 for separate incidents involving three different women, the doctor was arrested again last month for allegedly molesting another female patient. The latest incident reportedly took place on June 29 at a private clinic in Bayan Baru, where the victim had sought treatment for abdominal pain. 'According to police, the doctor had asked her to undress and allegedly touched her breasts during the consultation. Earlier news reports indicated that the doctor had allegedly photographed or filmed at least two female patients under the guise of medical procedures, where the women were told to run in place, topless,' WCC said in a statement today. 'These recurring allegations raise serious concerns about the apparent lack of effective action and accountability within medical institutions, enforcement agencies, and prosecutorial authorities. WCC asked: Why has the suspect still not been charged in court, despite police confirming four months ago – in March 2025 – that investigation papers for the three prior cases had been submitted to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP)? Despite multiple arrests, why has the suspect been allowed to continue practising medicine – including taking locum shifts at private clinics? What concrete actions, if any, have been taken by the hospital and health authorities following their internal investigations? 'How many more women must be violated – deceived, secretly recorded, molested or worse – before meaningful and effective action is finally taken? The public is no longer just waiting for answers – it is demanding effective action.' WCC added that the Health Ministry, Penang Health Department, the police, and the Attorney-General's Chambers owe the public full transparency and accountability. 'The Malaysian Medical Council and Malaysian Medical Association also have a duty to act. WCC therefore calls for the following immediate concrete actions: • That the Ministry of Health, Malaysian Medical Council, Malaysian Medical Association and other relevant authorities immediately suspend or revoke the doctor's licence to practise – including barring him from locum duty pending the outcome of criminal proceedings. • That the police and Attorney-General's Chambers expedite investigation and prosecution in all four reported cases – and move swiftly to charge the suspect without further delay. 'Above all, we seek justice for the victims and urgent action to protect other women at risk,' it added.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
SMM sues MalaysiaNow for defamation, denies issuing mining licence to politically-linked firm
KOTA KINABALU, July 25 — Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has initiated legal proceedings against news portal MalaysiaNow over allegedly false and defamatory reports concerning the politically-linked company Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd. In a statement, SMM accused MalaysiaNow of publishing 'numerous allegations which are false, misleading, and defamatory' regarding the purported awarding of a prospecting licence (PL) to Bumi Suria, a company linked to prominent businessman and former political aide Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. 'At no point in time did MalaysiaNow seek SMM's clarification prior to the publication. The publications were biased, one-sided, and represent a calculated attempt by MalaysiaNow to defame SMM, its directors, and officers,' SMM stated, adding that it would pursue legal action against any other media outlet that republishes the claims. The lawsuit comes after a series of articles and videos by MalaysiaNow suggesting that SMM had improperly awarded a prospecting licence to Bumi Suria for a 70,000-hectare forest reserve area in Kalabakan and Gunung Rara. SMM rebutted this, reiterating that it has no legal power to issue prospecting or mining licences. It stressed that this authority lies solely with the Sabah Department of Lands and Surveys (JTU) under the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960. JTU director Datuk Bernard Liew noted this yesterday when saying that no mineral-related licence had ever been issued to Bumi Suria. Instead, SMM clarified that it had only issued a 'Conditional Letter of Permission to Apply for a Prospecting Licence' to Bumi Suria following internal board deliberations, stressing that this document was not an approval or the issuance of any licence. 'However, Bumi Suria did not proceed to formally submit any of the required documents for an application. Consequently, on March 24, 2025, SMM issued an official letter of cancellation of permission to apply to Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd. 'These facts were maliciously omitted by MalaysiaNow,' SMM said. SMM also took issue with the use of a photo of its chief executive officer, Natasha Sim, and her name in connection with an audio recording that they claim does not feature her voice and is not associated with her. 'This deliberate act of misrepresentation is unacceptable and unethical,' it said. The issue has drawn public scrutiny, particularly as SMM has been embroiled in controversy since a series of leaked videos and audio recordings emerged, alleging corrupt practices in the awarding of licences and implicating several Sabahan politicians. Two state assemblymen, Datuk Yusof Yaacob (Sindumin) and Datuk Andy Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu), are currently facing corruption charges over the scandal. Farhash, a former aide to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has denied allegations that he owned Bumi Suria and that the company had been awarded a mineral prospecting or exploration licence. While confirming he is a director and shareholder, his lawyers have demanded the articles be removed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
It's minimal force if no one dies, says Taiping Prison's assistant superintendent
Mohd Hairie Jumri, an assistant prison superintendent, claimed him hitting inmates in Taiping Prison in January this year was not serious as he had not killed anyone. Mohd Hairie, 39, who was transferred to Taiping Prison in November 2022, denied being aggressive and said he used minimal force when hitting the inmates. He was testifying before the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (Suhakam) public inquiry into alleged human rights violations at Taiping Prison on Jan 17. On Jan 25, Twentytwo13 reported that inmate Gan Chin Eng, 62, had died from abdominal injuries caused by blunt trauma in the Jan 17 incident. He was among 104 detainees transferred from the Batu Gajah Correctional Facility to Taiping Prison on Jan 16. Earlier, another witness, prison sergeant Dzulizwar Mohd Bakir, 44, admitted there was no justification for his aggressive actions towards inmates on Jan 17. When asked by Suhakam's assisting inquiry officer, Simon Karunagaram, to define what 'minimal force' meant to him, Mohd Hairie replied: 'If the inmate didn't die, it means it is minimal force'. Simon: So, if I punch you, you have bruises and your eyesight is blurry, is that minimal force? Mohd Hairie: Yes. Simon: Look at this image. Prisoners are bleeding. Is this minimal force? Mohd Hairie: Maybe they hit the fire hydrant on the way out of Hall B. He also demanded that Simon prove that he had used excessive force. But when questioned by Suhakam chairman, Datuk Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus, who is on the panel of inquiry with Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, Mohd Hairie replied that he was not in the right frame of mind when the beatings took place. Like the other witnesses this week, he claimed the inmates used harsh and abusive words against the guards and threatened to rape members of their families, causing him to act irrationally. When asked by lawyer T. Shashi Devan, who is representing some 99 Taiping Prison inmates, if he agreed that maximum force was used as it resulted in the death of Gan Chin Eng, Mohd Hairie replied: 'I disagree.' Earlier, Mohd Hairie, who is attached to the maintenance department, admitted that Taiping needs a new prison as the current one is too old. Taiping Prison is Malaysia's oldest prison, built in 1879, and is a heritage building. During questioning by Suhakam's assisting inquiry officer, Aida Suraya Haron, Mohd Hairie stated that Block B of the prison had been declared unsafe by the Public Works Department, as were the upper floors of Block E, and there were additional concerns regarding Block C. Mohd Hairie also admitted that: He did not record every activity in his pocket diary. He only recorded the incidents of Jan 17 a few days after giving his initial statement to Suhakam investigators on March 10. His superiors did not check his pocket diary once a month. The dereliction of duty by his superiors could be the reason many officers don't record their pocket diaries faithfully, even though it could be produced in court as evidence. He did not discuss with other witnesses who testified this week – Dzulizwar Mohd Bakir, prison inspector Ahmad Rizal Razali, sergeant Saiful Azman Mohamad Ibrahim, and prison inspector Muhamad Mustakhim Abdul Rahim – how to testify, even though the words used were almost the same. The inquiry will continue next month.
