Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, a six-year-old autistic child found dead in Damansara Damai, Selangor, last December.
Here is a timeline of the heartbreaking events surrounding this tragic case:
December 5, 2023 – Zayn Rayyan was reported missing after playing at the playground near his home. His family posted about his disappearance on social media before reporting it to the police. He was last seen entering a wooded area adjacent to his residential block.
December 6, 2023 – The Petaling Jaya District Police and the local residents’ association conducted a search operation from house to house, monitoring the entrances and exits of the residential block starting at 8 PM. Zayn Rayyan’s body was found in a stream about 200 meters from his home around 10 PM. Police stated that the area where the body was found had been searched by the K9 Unit the previous day.
December 7, 2023 – Following an autopsy at Sungai Buloh Hospital, police classified Zayn Rayyan’s death as a murder. Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan reported that the autopsy revealed injuries to the child’s neck and body.
December 8, 2023 – Police began screening individuals with prior criminal records in the area. They confirmed that there were no signs of old injuries suggesting past abuse on the child’s body.
December 10, 2023 – DNA tests were conducted on 228 individuals to aid the investigation, involving the examination of 2,484 residential units and commercial premises.
December 13, 2023 – Police found a sock in a water reservoir in the stream near where Zayn Rayyan’s body was discovered. The discovery was made after the Fire and Rescue Department and the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department drained the water from the stream.
December 14, 2023 – The sock found in the water was confirmed not to belong to Zayn Rayyan.
December 23, 2023 – Police sought assistance from Interpol in the search for evidence in Zayn Rayyan’s case.
February 6, 2024 – Datuk Seri A. Thaiveegan, Deputy Chairman of the Selangor Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF), offered a reward of RM20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
February 23, 2024 – No new information was reported despite the RM20,000 reward offered for leads in the case.
May 8, 2024 – Director of Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ) Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain stated that they were still hopeful for new leads.
May 31, 2024 – Zayn Rayyan’s parents were arrested in Puncak Alam by Selangor Police to assist in the investigation.
June 1, 2024 – The Petaling Jaya Sessions Court granted a seven-day remand for the 29-year-old couple under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
June 7, 2024 – The court extended the remand of the couple by six more days until June 13.
June 10, 2024 – Police brought Zayn Rayyan’s mother to Apartment Idaman Damansara Damai to reenact the events leading up to Zayn Rayyan’s disappearance and the discovery of his body.
June 12, 2024 – Zayn Rayyan’s mother was taken to the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court to provide a formal statement. Subsequently, the police detained Zayn Rayyan’s grandparents to assist in the investigation.
June 13, 2024 – Zayn Rayyan’s parents were charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court for neglect, which possibly caused physical injury to the child in December last year. Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, both 29, pleaded not guilty and requested a trial after the charges were read to them by Judge Dr. Syahliza Warnoh.
“Some people are too special for this world, their time here is brief, but their impact is infinite”