Zayn Rayyan’s mother appeals her 5-year sentence, arguing the prosecution misapplied the Child Act and the court rejected key defence evidence.
SHAH ALAM: The mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin has filed an appeal against her conviction and five-year prison sentence for child neglect.
Ismanira Abdul Manaf, 31, filed the petition at the High Court here on Monday through her lawyer, Haresh Mahadevan.
The appeal argues the prosecution misdirected itself by charging her under Section 31 instead of Section 33 of the Child Act 2001.
Haresh stated the Sessions Court convicted her for a failure to provide reasonable supervision, which is a separate offence under Section 33.
“The appellant was convicted of an offence for which she was never charged,” he said.
The petition also claims the trial judge misdirected herself by rejecting a defence expert’s evidence.
It states the judge rejected the qualified defence expert solely because he did not examine the child.
This rejection is alleged to be arbitrary and a serious misdirection in evaluating evidence.
Ismanira had initially filed a notice of appeal against the conviction and sentence on October 31, 2025.
Sessions Court judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh had ruled the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt.
The court ordered Ismanira to begin her prison sentence immediately.
She was also given a two-year good behaviour bond with one surety and RM3,000 bail.
The court further ordered her to complete 120 hours of community service within six months of her release.
She was convicted under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a RM50,000 fine, or both.
Zayn Rayyan, an autistic six-year-old, was reported missing in Damansara Damai on December 5, 2023.
His body was discovered the following day.