PETALING JAYA – The grandfather of the late Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin has urged the police to continue investigating the six-year-old’s murder, claiming that the real killer remains at large.
“I want to know what has happened to the murder investigation.
“It’s been two years, but there’s still no progress. The person responsible is still out there,” said Zahari Mohd Reba, 57, when met outside the Petaling Jaya Court Complex on Friday.
Zahari said his family accepted the court’s verdict with an open heart but were still tormented by unanswered questions about who was truly behind his grandson’s death.
“Everyone knows the court’s decision and we respect it. But I need to know, what’s the status of the case? Who killed my grandson?” he said during a brief press conference.
He also appealed to the authorities to continue the investigation with fairness and transparency to ensure justice is served.
“For two years, our family has endured pain and slander on social media. We’ve stayed patient and placed our trust in God, but we still seek justice,” he added.
Despite their strength, Zahari admitted the family has not forgotten the trauma and injustice they faced.
“We pray that those who defamed us will face consequences. Even if not in this world, God willing, justice will prevail in the next,” he said.
Zahari also revealed that the family now looks after Zahin Mateen, Zayn’s younger brother, who is currently under the care of the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
“We sincerely hope JKM will allow us to care for Zahin. No matter what happens, we’re ready to raise him ourselves,” he said emotionally.
He declined to comment further on the court’s decision to reject the defence’s application for a stay of execution, leaving the matter to the family’s lawyer.
“My purpose here today is simply to express how our family feels. Hearing the prison sentence was heartbreaking. We’re very close to my daughter-in-law, she’s like my own child,” he said before ending the session tearfully.
Earlier, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 30, the mother of the late Zayn Rayyan, was sentenced to five years in prison by the Sessions Court after being found guilty of neglecting her autistic son two years ago.
Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh also ordered her to serve 120 hours of community service within six months and to be placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.
During mitigation, the defence sought to postpone the prison sentence, but the application was denied.
On June 13 last year, Ismanira and her husband Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, 30, pleaded not guilty to a charge of neglecting their child in a manner likely to cause physical harm between 12pm, December 5, 2023, and 9.55pm, December 6, 2023, at Pangsapuri Idaman, Damansara Damai.
On July 21, the court acquitted Zaim after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
Zayn Rayyan was found dead in a stream near his apartment complex on December 6, 2023, around 10pm, about 200 metres from his home. He had been reported missing the previous day.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin, Aqharie Durranie Aziz, and Kamarul Iman Ahmad Sapian.