KAJANG – While the new lawyer for the parents of murdered autistic boy Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin can meet with his clients, police have the discretion to decide the timing.
“Although the parents’ lawyers have the right and opportunity to meet their clients, police also have the right to decide when they can meet and whether the meetings should take place during the remand period or after,” said Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan.
“So, police have the discretion to decide when the lawyers are to meet (their clients),” he told a press conference at the launch of the Taman Angkat Amanita Selangor contingent at SK Taman Rakan today.
This comes after lawyer Fahmi Abd Moin revealed that he only met his clients, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, for the first time at a court proceeding to extend their remand order yesterday.
Previously, Fahmi revealed to Scoop that police did not respond to several letters he had sent requesting to see his clients while they were under their first remand order.
Meanwhile, Hussein said police’s first phase of interrogations during the seven-day remand period had been completed, but six more days had been added to complete the investigation paper.
During the previous seven days of remand for the parents, Hussein said police had called up three individuals for questioning: two family members and a former babysitter.
He added that the extended remand period was necessary to verify certain matters and discrepancies within their systems.
“Why do we need six days? There are contradictory matters that require further investigation, which we must rectify until we are satisfied with the findings.
“These discrepancies are not just from the parents but also from other witnesses. I cannot provide further details as the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Hussien also said he could not confirm police’s next steps in the investigation, noting that it would depend on the six-day timeline.
He added that the investigation papers would be referred to the deputy public prosecutor as soon as police were satisfied with the investigation and its completion.
Zayn Rayyan’s parents, Zaim and Ismanira, were first arrested on May 31 and were remanded for seven days from June 1.
Yesterday, the magistrates’ court allowed police to extend their remand for another six days.
Scoop recently reported on concerns in legal circles regarding the treatment of individuals detained in police custody, including the denial of access to legal counsel or calls to family members. These concerns were exposed in recent legal battles over unlawful arrests and detentions.
Zayn Rayyan’s body was found in a creek about 200m from his family’s home at the Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai, on December 6 last year.
Despite widespread checks on other apartment residents and DNA testing, police have not been able to arrest anyone until the parents’ arrest. – June 8, 2024