A PROSECUTION witness told the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court that Ismanira Abdul Manaf, the mother of the late Zayn Rayyan, never neglected her autistic son in terms of his health, well-being, safety and education.
Siti Aminah Nor Ali, who holds a master’s degree in special education said Ismanira was a loving and caring mother.
She said this when cross-examined by lawyer Haresh Mahadevan, lead counsel for the boy’s parents.
She also concurred with Haresh that an autistic child's character would change depending on the environment and that it was hard to predict the actions of an autistic child when he is not in school.
The witness also said that Ismanira took her son for regular medical check-ups.
During examination-in-chief, Siti, 40, said Zayn Rayyan was placed at her school as the boy needed special attention.
On the day Zayn Rayyan went missing, Siti said Ismanira was late to pick him up. She told the court that she walked the boy to the gate when his mother arrived on her motorcycle.
Earlier, the eighth prosecution witness, Lance Corporal Mohd Khairil Ashraf Basman from the Kota Damansara police station testified that he had made the first information report (FIR) on the discovery of the boy's body near Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai on Dec 6, 2023.
He said he was on duty when the station's officer-in-charge, Assistant Superintendent Mohd Nasir Mustapha, telephoned him and conveyed the matter.
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, 30, and his wife, Ismanira, 30, pleaded not guilty in the sessions court on June 13 last year to neglecting six-year-old Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause him physical harm.
The offence allegedly occurred at PJU Damansara Damai between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023.
The charge was framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and is punishable under the same section, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. If convicted, they face a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 20 years, or both. - February 7, 2025
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