Nina Syamimi Syamsuddin sobbed and was choked with emotion when asked by deputy public prosecutor Aqharie Durranie Aziz to describe the demeanour of the boy’s mother when recording her statement.
Ismanira Abdul Manaf and her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, both 30, are facing a charge of neglecting their six-year-old son, Zayn Rayyan, in a manner likely to cause him physical harm.
After regaining her composure, Nina testified that she recorded a statement from Ismanira in a police vehicle near her home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai, at about 7pm on Dec 5, 2023.
Aqharie: How was her reaction to your questions?
Nina: She had no reply to some of the questions posed and displayed a stony face.
Earlier, Nina, the fourth prosecution witness, said she had contacted Ismanira on her mobile phone and asked why it took her five hours to report her son’s disappearance to the police.
“She replied that residents had searched for her son and a neighbour later advised her to make a report,” the witness said.
Yesterday, a corporal, Nurul Khairina Zuki, said she received a first information report from Ismanira, who had come to the Sri Damansara police station at about 5.45pm. Nurul said she then called Nina to brief her about the report.
In her testimony, Nina said she told Ismanira to return home as the police had received information from a resident that a child had caught a glimpse of Zayn Rayyan.
However, Ismanira insisted that her statement be recorded at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters where Nina was stationed.
“I then spoke to her husband (Zaim) who raised his voice and insisted that Ismanira’s statement be recorded as soon as possible,” she added.
Nina said Ismanira had told her that she had requested the public to help locate Zayn Rayyan on her Facebook page soon after the boy went missing.
Nina and another witness, senior investigating officer Nor Zaharuddin Sanip, an assistant superintendent of police, were later asked to describe the crime scene.
Aqharie, who is assisted by DPP Kamarul Iman Ahmad Sapian, then applied for permission to recall witnesses to testify further and be cross-examined after visiting the location of the incident.
The judge allowed the application and directed that the site visit be conducted as soon as possible to expedite the trial.
Hearing before judge Syahliza Warnoh was adjourned to tomorrow, with three new witnesses to take the stand.
Lawyers Haresh Mahadevan, Ramzani Idris and Lavanesh Haresh appeared for the couple, who are on bail.
Ismanira and Zaim, both 30, claimed trial to the charge on June 13 last year.
The offence allegedly occurred at PJU Damansara Damai between noon on Dec 5 and 9.55pm on Dec 6, 2023.
The charge, framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, is punishable with a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
Zayn Rayyan was reported missing on Dec 5, 2023 and his body was discovered in a stream near his home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai, the following day.
He was believed to have been murdered after an autopsy revealed injuries to his neck and body, consistent with self-defence.