PETALING JAYA - Six-year old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin is believed to have been strangled by his assailant before his lifeless body was left in a drainage channel approximately 200m from Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai, on Wednesday.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the forensic examination revealed that the victim had engaged in a struggle with the assailant.
He said the autopsy indicated the victim, who was a non-verbal autistic child, was likely strangled based on consistent signs of injury on the neck.
"What is certain is that the cause of the victim's death is not drowning at the scene but strangulation, along with other injuries indicating an attempt to defend himself. I can only reveal so much to respect the dignity of the deceased and the family," he told reporters at the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters on Thursday.
He added that the victim was believed to have died more than 48 hours before being discovered.
"Initial investigation found that the victim did not die at the location where he was found, but possibly at another place before his body was placed there.
"We are still investigating the possibility that the suspect may be a local resident; we are still looking into that matter," he said.
He clarified that the location where the victim was found was not regularly frequented by the public.
"It is possible that the involved suspect knew about this location, so we will re-conduct the investigation at the crime scene," Shuhaily said, urging the public to provide any information to the police to aid in the investigation.
"I appeal to the local community; if they have any information, come forward to the police, cooperate with us to unravel this crime.
"The police take this heinous crime seriously and will make every effort to track down the involved suspect," he said.
The search for Zayn was finally solved when the victim was found dead in a drain approximately 200 meters from the apartment. The victim is believed to have been murdered, as the forensic examination revealed signs of injuries on the neck and body of the child, indicating criminal activity.