PETALING JAYA: The grandfather of the late Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin has urged the authorities to continue investigating the six-year-old’s murder transparently and fairly.
Zahari Mohd Reba (pic), 56, said that while the family accepts the court’s decision on Friday (Oct 31), they remain deeply concerned that the person responsible for Zayn Rayyan’s death has yet to be brought to justice.
"Everyone is aware of today’s decision. We accept it, the family accepts it.
"However, I want to emphasise that despite the decision being made, we still want to know the status of Zayn Rayyan’s murder case.
"Until now, the police investigation has failed. The murderer is still out there," he said when met outside the Sessions Court here.
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"I urge the authorities to continue the investigation with transparency and fairness.
"For two years, our family has been slandered and vilified on social media and in the media. But we have remained patient. This is all God’s will," he said.
Zahari added that the family continues to pray for divine justice against those who maligned them.
"May those who have slandered us face the consequences.
"Even if the retribution is not shown in this world, God willing, it will certainly be in the hereafter," he added.
He said the family is now focused on taking care of Zayn Rayyan’s younger brother, Zahin Mateen, and hopes the Social Welfare Department will grant them custody.
"We are willing to do anything for our grandchild.
"Our hearts are broken hearing the decision because we have always been close to our daughter-in-law," he said.
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Earlier, judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh sentenced Zayn Rayyan's mother Ismanira Abdul Manaf to five years’ jail after finding her guilty of neglecting her son in a manner likely to cause physical harm two years ago.
She also dismissed defence counsel’s request for a stay of execution, and ordered that Ismanira begin serving the sentence immediately.
On July 21, judge Syahliza ordered Ismanira to enter her defence after ruling that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against her.
Ismanira's husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, 30, was, however, acquitted and discharged of the same charge.
The couple had been charged with neglecting Zayn Rayyan in a manner likely to cause him physical injury in the vicinity of Block R, Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai, and the nearby stream, at around noon on Dec 5, 2023, and 9.55pm the following day.
They were charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
The body of Zayn Rayyan, aged six, was discovered in a stream near his residence on Dec 6, 2023.
A post-mortem confirmed that he died from strangulation.
