The trial judge said the proceedings will be conducted in camera, meaning the media and the public cannot be in the courtroom to hear the children’s testimony.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Raja Zaizul Faridah Raja Zaharudin said the prosecution intended to adduce evidence from two child witnesses.
She said the testimony will comply with the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007.
She also said the two witnesses will not be physically present in court and that their evidence would be taken via a video link.
Raja Zaizul said the children will be accompanied by an adult and assured the court that they will not be coached as regards the contents of their testimony.
“The media cannot reveal their identities and may be fined up to RM10,000, or two years jail, or both, for any violation of the law,” she said.
Haresh Mahadevan, lead counsel appearing for Zayn Rayyan’s parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, did not object to the prosecution’s application.
Earlier, a resident, Siti Natrah Ismail, told the court that at about noon on Dec 5, 2023 she saw two boys running. One was in school uniform while the other was in black shorts and white shirt, with one of them screaming with a screeching sound.
“At that time, I was drying the clothes on the ground floor of my block at Apartment Idaman. The boy in the school uniform was chasing the other boy,” Siti, 68, said when examined by Raja Zaizul.
Siti, a housewife, said she saw the two boys running towards a coconut orchard but the boy in school uniform turned back because a van had arrived to take him to school.
“I went back to my house as my grandchild was crying,” she said.
Further examined by Raja Zaizul, Siti said she vaguely remembered the name of the boy in the school uniform but not the other.
Another witness, a corporal, Hunter El Arash Jeanawie Untam, said he led a group of 10 people to locate Zayn Rayyan on the second day of the boy’s disappearance.
“As we were heading towards a stream, we heard someone shouting and repeatedly saying ‘found’,” said Hunter.
The 13th prosecution witness said he rushed to the scene and saw Zayn Rayyan’s fully-clothed body lying in a foetal position.
Last week, Faizul Najib Abd Munaim told the court he discovered the body of Zayn Rayyan on a sand bank in the stream at about 9.30pm on Dec 6, 2023 with the aid of his torchlight.
Hunter said he immediately informed his superiors of the discovery and removed his jacket to cover the body.
“I also barred those who were around to take any photos of the body using their mobile phones,” he said when examined by DPP Aqharie Durranie Aziz.
Later, he said a police forensic team arrived to conduct their investigation.
Cross-examined by Haresh, Hunter disagreed with the lawyer that those present at the crime scene concluded that Zayn Rayyan was murdered.
Hunter also said he did not record in his diary the events which took place at the spot where the body was found.
Also in the prosecution team was DPP Kamarul Iman Ahmad Sapian. Lawyers Ramzani Idris and H Lavanesh assisted Haresh.
Ismanira and Zaim, both 30, have claimed trial to a charge of child neglect 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 of up to 20 years, or both, upon conviction.
Zayn Rayyan, who suffers from autism, was reported missing on Dec 5, 2023. His body was discovered in a stream near his home at Apartment Idaman, Damansara Damai, the following day.