KUALA LUMPUR – The parents of the murdered 6-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin will have another “surprise” on their hands when their detention ends on Thursday.
The couple’s former lawyer has promised to release a statement on June 13 to clarify the “unavoidable circumstances” as to why he is no longer representing them as of June 4.
Emir Mahmud & Co’s Mahmud Abdul Jumaat told Scoop that he would not be holding any press conferences nor commenting further on his services when he was retained by the couple.
“No press conferences. We will have a surprise on Thursday. Wait for it.
“I have been getting many calls from the media for clarification. I will answer these questions then. The truth shall prevail.”
The sudden change in defence lawyers for the parents – Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf – piqued interest when Mahmud announced he was no longer representing them four days into their initial seven-day remand period.
Previously, Zaim’s father Zahari Mohd Reba said there were no letters appointing Mahmud as the couple’s lawyer, hinting there was a misunderstanding between the lawyer and the media.
Mahmud represented the couple during the remand hearing for the couple at the Petaling Jaya court on June 1, where magistrate Ainaa Muhammad Kamal granted a seven-day remand until June 7.
When the couple was brought to the Petaling Jaya courthouse for a remand extension application, they were represented by lawyer and former deputy public prosecutor Fahmi Abd Moin.
The couple will remain in police custody until June 13.
Scoop reported that Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the parents were remanded for a week to allow further investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
On December 6 last year, Zayn Rayyan’s body was found in a creek about 200m from his family’s home at Idaman Apartment, Damansara Damai, Petaling Jaya.
The victim was confirmed to have been murdered based on the autopsy, which revealed injuries to his neck and body. The day before, police confirmed they had received a report of the child’s disappearance from his family. – June 9, 2024