“No one should accuse us of any ill intentions,” Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Shuhaily Zain said at a press conference.
“We have used all the legal provisions available to investigate and conclude this case, and bring it to the prosecution stage today.”
Shuhaily said the circumstances of the case warranted cutting off Zayn’s parents’ access to the media during their remand.
“We wanted to avoid irresponsible speculation because this is now a case of national interest that has received attention not just within the country, but outside as well.
“We have used the provisions given under the law to the police to its fullest extent,” he said, citing Sections 107 to 120 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
“In the context of this investigation, statements were taken, and we decided that we wanted to be sure that whatever was disclosed to us by the suspects would be admissible as evidence,” he said.
Shuhaily said the case warranted the application of Section 28A(8) of the CPC to deny the duo access to the media while in remand.
Under Section 28A(8), the police are allowed, in the appropriate case, to prevent a suspect from communicating with any relative, friend or lawyer if there are grounds to suspect that they may take steps to avoid apprehension, or to conceal, fabricate or destroy evidence or intimidate any witness.
At the Petaling Jaya sessions court earlier today, Zayn’s parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, claimed trial to a charge of neglecting the boy.
The charge was framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. If convicted, the duo could each face imprisonment not exceeding 20 years, or a fine of up to RM50,000, or both.
Yesterday, the boy’s mother was brought before a magistrate to have her statement recorded.
Zayn was reported missing in Damansara Damai on Dec 5 last year. He was found dead the next day about 200m from his apartment block.
The post-mortem revealed multiple injuries, including defensive wounds, while the cause of death was believed to be strangulation.