KUALA LUMPUR – A family member of 6-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin has filed a police report against Edisi Siasat’s leak of alleged details regarding the circumstances of the autistic boy’s murder.
The report, which was filed by Zayn Rayyan’s paternal uncle at the Sg Buloh police station at about 6pm today, requests police to investigate Edisi Siasat’s “slander” against the child’s parents.
The complainant also called on police to probe into the veracity of information exposed in the Telegram leak as well as the figure behind the leak and the Edisi Siasat group as a whole.
He also alleged that Edisi Siasat’s images of police’s purported investigation papers had violated a gag order imposed by the court yesterday when Zayn Rayyan’s parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, were charged with child neglect.
Meanwhile, when contacted by Scoop, Zaim’s lawyer Fahmi Abd Moin confirmed that the report had been lodged, noting that the family was now under “tremendous pressure” due to the spread of the “unverified” documents online.
“Edisi Siasat’s documents are unverified. Anybody can produce such documents (so) I hope the public doesn’t simply trust whatever they see. Let police look into the matter.”
He also said while freedom of speech was guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, the right should be utilised wisely and within the scope of any laws pertaining to it.
“Everyone has a responsibility to make sure every posting or comment made does not amount to subjudice and can be investigated under criminal defamation later on.”
For the record, sessions court judge Syahliza Warnoh had imposed a gag order only on parties involved in the case, despite Fahmi’s submission for the order to be extended to the general public.
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan previously confirmed to Scoop that police were looking into the leak of an alleged investigation officer’s report on the case.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has also been asked to aid police regarding the circulation of the alleged police documents, with Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil saying those responsible for the leak must “face action”.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also said the spread of the alleged details would interrupt ongoing police probes and stir public opinion. – June 14, 2024