SHAH ALAM - A parent of murdered autistic boy Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin had a confession recorded under the Evidence Act 1950 today.
According to online news portal Scoop, this was revealed by Petaling Jaya police chief Shahrulnizam Jaafar @ Ismail. However, Shahrulnizam declined to specify which parent made the confession or provide further details.
Earlier, it was reported that lawyer Mahmud Jumaat who represented Zayn Rayyan’s mother Ismanira Abdul Manaf said charges related to Zayn Rayyan’s murder would only be proffered tomorrow.
Mahmud told reporters that Ismanira was involved in a closed proceedings at the Petaling Jaya magistrate's court under Section 26(1) of the Evidence Act.
The lawyer said his client gave evidence to counter "what is being alleged out there" of her supposed guilt and involvement in the murder, the report said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Fahmi Abd Moin who represented Zayn Rayyan’s father Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, was reported saying that he was only notified at 9am today about his client’s court appearance.
He also refrained from commenting further until after Zaim's proceedings.
Ismanira arrived at the courthouse around 10.30am, today, accompanied by several individuals believed to be her family members.
Under Section 26(1) of the Evidence Act 1950, a confession made while in police custody is not admissible in court unless made in the presence of a Sessions Court judge or magistrate.
It was reported that Zayn Rayyan’s parents were arrested on May 31 and remanded for seven days from June 1 to assist in the investigation into the six-year-old's murder.
On Friday, the magistrates’ court granted an extension of their remand for another six days until tomorrow (Thursday).
Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan explained that the extended remand period was necessary to verify certain matters and discrepancies in their systems.
On Monday, Ismanira was taken back to Idaman Apartments in Damansara Damai to reenact the events leading to Zayn Rayyan's disappearance and the discovery of his body.
Zayn Rayyan’s body was found in a creek about 200 metres away from his family’s home on Dec 6, last year.