PETALING JAYA - A lawyer has revealed that there are new developments in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code, leading to the arrest of the parents of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, a 6-year-old autistic child who was murdered in Damansara Damai last December.
Mahmud Abdul Jumaat, who represents the couple, said that the police conveyed this during the remand application proceedings at the Magistrate's Court here on Saturday, before Magistrate Azura Mohd Saad.
He said the police stated that they were the suspects or persons of interest in the murder of their eldest child.
"At this time, we cannot make any speculations, so I ask everyone to be patient and pray for this family to have the strength to endure this trial.
"It is still in the remand period and it is just to complete the investigation, we do not know yet who else will be charged,” he said this morning.
If the investigation was completed, he said, the case will be sent to the public prosecutor, and at that point, the main suspect will be identified.
When asked about new evidence or conflicting statements from the parents, the lawyer said that these two factors might have contributed to their arrest.
When meeting with the couple, Mahmud said, they looked very shocked and did not expect to become suspects in their own child's murder case.
"I also anticipated this, and I believe the whole of Malaysia is shocked by this development, but I am confident that the police applied for the remand to complete their investigation.
"We will give the police space to conduct their investigation transparently and thoroughly for the sake of justice,” he said, adding that the remand might be extended after it ends next Friday.
On Dec 6 last year, Zayn Rayyan was found dead in a stream near the Idaman Apartment area in Damansara Damai at 10pm.
The victim’s body was discovered by a group of residents who were conducting a search operation just 200 metres away from his apartment block where he was reported missing two days prior.
Police confirmed that the victim was believed to have been murdered, as the autopsy results found injuries on the child's neck and body related to criminal acts.