[UPDATED] Zayn Rayyan’s Parents Charged With Child Neglect

In a highly-anticipated verdict surrounding the death of 6-year-old Zayn Rayyan, the boy’s parents have been charged at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today with child neglect which caused their son’s death.

Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, who were both aged 29, told judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh that they understood the charge framed under Section 31 of the Child Act 2001 and pleaded not guilty, reported Scoop.

Deputy public prosecutor Ku Hayati Ku Haron asked for the court to set bail at RM15,000 for each of the accused while Zaim’s lawyer, Fahmi Abd Moin, pleaded for a minimal bail of RM5,000, saying that Zayn’s death had “completely turned his life around”.

Meanwhile, Ismanira’s lawyer Mahmud Jumaat requested the court to impose a reduced bail amount of RM5,000 for both Zaim and Ismanira, meaning that each equals to RM2,500.

However, the court set bail at RM10,000 for Zaim and Ismanira each and placed an additional condition that the couple must report to the nearby police station on the first of every month and not harass the prosecution’s witnesses.

A gag order was also imposed for all parties involved and the case has been set for mention on July 26.

Summary of events

The couple was nabbed by police last Friday (May 31) and remanded for seven days starting on June 1 in order to aid investigations under Section 302 for murder.

Their remand order was later extended for another six days and expired today (June 13).

Meanwhile, Zayn’s paternal grandparents also found themselves detained by police yesterday (June 12) to help facilitate investigations but are set to be released on police bail.

Back in December of last year, Zayn was reported missing and his body was found 200 metres from his home in Damansara Damai.

The case was first classified as sudden death (SDR) but became a murder case after the post-mortem found signs of injuries on Zayn’s neck and body.

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