High Court sets Sept 28 for decision on appeal by Zayn Rayyan’s mum

On September 28, the High Court in Shah Alam will decide whether to overturn Ismanira Abdul Manaf's conviction and five-year prison sentence for neglecting her autistic six-year-old son, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin. Zayn's body was found in a stream on December 6, 2023, after he was reported missing.

Ismanira's lawyer, Lavanesh Haresh, argued that the five-year sentence was excessive and requested that the court consider a fine instead. Haresh stated that Ismanira had already served 10 months in prison and should not face further punishment. The defence also challenged the court's findings that Ismanira's negligence caused Zayn's injuries and relied on the police's conclusion that her actions constituted neglect.

The prosecution, however, defended the conviction and sentence, emphasizing the need for a deterrent effect to prevent similar offenses. They argued that a lighter sentence would send the wrong message and potentially create a precedent in future cases involving close family members who care for victims.