SHAH ALAM - The nation was recently stunned by the arrest of a couple in connection with the tragic murder of their autistic child, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, last December.
His parents were remanded seven days from Saturday to facilitate the ongoing investigation.
On Dec 5 last year, Zayn Rayyan was reported missing in Damansara Damai and his dead body was later found near a stream about 200 metres from his home at Apartment Idaman.
A post-mortem revealed injuries to his neck and body, leading to the conclusion that he had been killed.
During the course of the investigation, police's forensic teams combed the location where the body was found as well as the surrounding areas in Damansara Damai.
A mass DNA screening was also conducted, and 228 samples were collected.
Here's a comprehensive timeline detailing the events surrounding the murder investigation that unfolded over the weekend:
May 31, 2024
Authorities apprehended the couple on Friday.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed the arrests, revealing that the couple was detained around Puncak Alam at approximately 11am.
Both suspects, aged 28, are currently under custody at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.
The duo were remanded for seven days, from Saturday to facilitate the investigation.
Hussein also confirmed that the investigation is being conducted under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
June 1, 2024
Police confirmed that the arrest of the couple was a result of thorough intelligence gathering and ongoing investigations since the unfortunate incident.
During the remand application proceedings at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, the couple's former lawyer Mahmud Jumaat disclosed the importance of patience and prayers to bolster the family’s resilience throughout this trial phase, underlining the need to avoid speculative conversations.
He reiterated that the remand was solely aimed at facilitating the investigation, with no definitive indications of additional charges.
Mahmud also stressed their profound shock and disbelief at being implicated in their child’s murder.
June 2, 2024
Police seized the mobile phones of Zayn Rayyan's parents for further investigation.
Hussein had said that the seizure was standard operating procedure (SOP) in such investigations.
When asked if the police had seized other items from the couple, Hussein said that the matter could not be disclosed at the time.
June 3, 2024
Police summoned Zayn Rayyan's former babysitter and two of his family members.
Hussein said the purpose of summoning these individuals was to record their statements to complete the ongoing investigation.
He did not rule out the possibility of police summoning more individuals in the future.
June 4, 2024
Mahmud has announced that he has withdrawn from representing Zayn Rayyan's parents citing unavoidable reasons.
"I pray that this case proceeds smoothly according to the legal process.
"As a legal practitioner, I advise all parties to respect the legal process and refrain from making wild speculations about this case for the common good," he said.
Mahmud was appointed by the family of Zayn’s parents after the couple, both aged 28, was arrested by police in Puncak Alam last Friday.
Subsequently, it was reported that Zayn Rayyan's parents have appointed a new lawyer to represent them while they are being remanded.
Zayn grandfather, Zahari Mohd Reba confirmed the matter but declined to comment further on the advice of their new lawyer.
Months Before the Arrest: A Search for Answers
Dec 5, 2023
A distressing incident unfolded as Zayn Rayyan went missing on Dec 5, 2023, around noon.
A Facebook user named Chezaiton Abd Aziz shared the news, stressing the urgency of the search and requesting help.
The boy’s mother, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, said Zayn Rayyan was last seen while returning from the playground at Idaman Damansara Damai Apartment.
As they walked home, Ismanira, carrying grocery bags, was right in front of Zayn.
At the stairs of the building, she looked back to find her son had vanished without a trace.
Ismanira claimed that she quickly searched the playground and the block but failed to find the child.
The child was last seen wearing black school shoes, black jeans, and a collared T-shirt with a school badge from SK Damansara Damai 2.
Petaling Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid said the police received a missing person report at 6.36pm the same day.
Police and the Fire and Rescue Department searched the apartment compound and the nearby creek but found no trace of Zayn.
Despite their efforts, they couldn't locate him within 24-hours.
Dec 6, 2023
Sniffer dogs from the Tracking Dog Unit (K9) were brought in to help, but there were no signs of Zayn Rayyan.
News reports stated that Zayn Rayyan was seen walking into a nearby forest.
Ismanira had said that her special needs child could have entered someone’s home.
The search stopped at 4pm and resumed in the evening with 40 police personnel and 60 residents searching door-to-door through the 18 blocks with 2,484 homes at Idaman Apartment.
As they combed the area, they discovered Zayn Rayyan’s body next to a creek about 200 metres from the apartment at about 10pm.
Fakhruddin stressed that the riverbank area was searched twice, but something had yet to be located previously.
The body was taken to Sungai Buloh Hospital for a post-mortem.
Dec 7, 2023
In a turn of events, the autopsy revealed injuries on Zayn Rayyan’s neck and body, intensifying suspicions of criminal involvement and leading the police to reclassify the case as murder.
Hussein revealed that the investigation has been classified under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
He urged the public, with any information related to the incident, to immediately contact the police to help with the investigation.
Zayn Rayyan was laid to rest at the cemetery around 6.49pm after the funeral prayers was held at Masjid Al Muhtadim, Damansara Damai.
More than 200 family members attended the burial.