KUALA LUMPUR – The family of murdered 6-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin maintains that the autistic boy’s parents are innocent and that the real killer is still at large.
Expressing their unhappiness over the police arrest of the 28-year-old couple last Friday, the family, who gathered at the Petaling Jaya magistrates’ court, were seen shouting when the duo arrived at about 9am today.
The family was heard shouting “ini fitnah” (this is slander) and “pembunuh masih di luar” (the killer is still out there) as the police ushered the duo inside the courtroom earlier.
Zayn’s parents were brought to court as the previous seven-day remand ended today.
Yesterday, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said that the remand order for the parents would be extended today.
The parents were arrested in Puncak Alam on May 31.
The police have also called up several individuals, including the autistic child’s former babysitter, to assist in the investigation.
Zayn Rayyan was reported missing in Damansara Damai on December 5, and his body was later found near a stream about 200m from his home at Idaman Apartments.
The post-mortem examination revealed injuries to his neck and body, leading the police to conclude that he was murdered.
The police had also conducted a large-scale DNA test, which gathered 228 samples.
Witnesses, including those who saw the boy last, were brought in to help with the investigation.
Earlier, Zayn’s family members and supporters gathered in front of the court complex today, holding banners that read “Justice for Zayn” and “Justice for Zaim and Isma.”
Over 20 supporters stood at the entrance as police sought to extend the remand order against Zayn’s parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf.
Zayn’s father’s younger brother said that the boy’s parents were used as scapegoats and that the real killer is still at large. – June 7, 2024