IN a recent development in the case concerning the tragic death of six-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, his mother Ismanira Abdul Manaf appeared in court today.
The legal intricacies of the case were highlighted by her lawyer Mahmud Jumaat, who pointed out that Ismanira’s statement did not constitute a confession under Section 26(1) of the Evidence Act 1950. This section stipulates that confessions made under police custody must be made in the presence of a sessions court judge or magistrate to be admissible as evidence.
“But what is interesting here is that Ismanira didn’t make a confession. Instead, she provided a statement to the magistrate,” he told a press conference after proceedings today.
Addressing the growing speculation surrounding the case, Mahmud urged the public to refrain from linking Ismanira and her husband Zaim Ikhwan Zahari to their son’s tragic death.
Meanwhile, Fahmi Moin, representing Zaim, expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation from the police. He claimed that they were only made aware of Ismanira’s court appearance through the media and arrived later than the scheduled time, potentially missing crucial proceedings.
“We arrived here at 11am only to learn later that the proceedings could have taken place as early as 9.30am, where Ismanira was brought to the magistrates’ court for a confession to be made,” he said.
The legal proceedings commenced around 11am, presided over by Magistrate Zhafran Rahim Hamzah.
Moreover, Fahmi argued that the proceedings unfairly biased against Zaim, potentially impacting his client’s defence should Ismanira face charges. He noted their objection, contending that the section of the Evidence Act cited was irrelevant to the murder investigation.
Zayn disappeared in Damansara Damai on Dec 5, 2023, and was discovered dead the following day, approximately 200 meters from his apartment block. Post-mortem examination revealed multiple injuries, including defensive wounds, with strangulation determined as the cause of death.
Furthermore, Zaim and Ismanira were arrested and detained from June 1 to aid in the murder probe under Section 302 of the Penal Code. – June 12, 2024
Main photo credit: NST
