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THE Shah Alam High Court on Tuesday dismissed the application by Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 30, to stay her five-year prison sentence while awaiting appeal in the case concerning her autistic son, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin.
Presiding Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin ruled that there were no exceptional circumstances warranting the suspension of her sentence. “The court finds no special conditions to allow the application,” he stated.
Ismanira, the mother of two, had been convicted by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court on 31 October for neglecting Zayn Rayyan, then six years old, in a manner that could cause physical injury.
The offences occurred between 12 noon on 5 December 2023 and 9.55 pm the following day in the vicinity of Block R, Pangsapuri Idaman, Damansara Damai, extending to a nearby river.
The charge was brought under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, carrying a maximum penalty of a RM50,000 fine, up to 20 years’ imprisonment, or both.
Following the conviction, the Sessions Court had ordered Ismanira to serve five years in Kajang Women’s Prison immediately, alongside a two-year good behaviour bond with a surety of RM3,000 and a 120-hour community service order to be completed within six months after her release.
Zayn Rayyan had been reported missing before being discovered lifeless by a river near the apartment complex at around 10 pm on 6 December 2023, approximately 200 metres from their home.
Ismanira had sought to suspend her sentence on 19 November, pending her appeal, but the High Court affirmed the lower court’s decision, reinforcing that the punishment and judicial process must be carried out in accordance with the law.
The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities of caregivers and the legal consequences of neglect, particularly for vulnerable children with special needs, highlighting the judiciary’s commitment to child protection and enforcement of the Child Act. - December 23, 2025