Zayn Rayyan's Autopsy Reveals Strangulation, Cuts on Ears, & Anus Injuries

Initially, the case was classified as sudden death, but further investigation made the police believe the boy had been murdered by strangulation before his body was dumped by the riverbank.

Following this update, Zayn Rayyan's parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, both 30, were arrested.

In a court testimony yesterday (April 8), Dr Rohayu Shahar Adnan, a forensic medicine consultant who performed an autopsy on the poor boy on December 7, 2023, confirmed that Zayn Rayyan died from ligature strangulation. Not only that, but his body also showed multiple signs of physical abuse.

As reported in Berita Harian, Dr Rohayu told the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court that there were overlapping strangulation marks located 6cm below both ears.

“The bruising on his neck muscles and thyroid glands showed the force was enough to cut off oxygen supply to the brain and lungs. The strangulation marks can be produced with any object, like a rope, a lanyard or twisted cloth.”

Other injuries found on the body

Further elaborating on the autopsy result, Dr Rohayu said Zayn Rayyan also had bruises on his forehead, lips, back of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen, as well as swelling on both eyes.

There were also sharp trauma wounds, including an incision on his ear and stab wounds extending from behind the ear to the back of the head.

“There were laceration and abrasion wounds around the anus due to the insertion of a blunt object. However, these injuries were not fatal,” she said.

Dr Rohayu also found foreign objects in the boy's right airway and stomach. The bruising on Zayn Rayyan's palate suggested that something had been forcefully shoved into his mouth. However, there was no sign of choking.

Based on the decomposition signs, it is estimated that Zayn Rayyan had been dead for more than 24 hours, possibly up to 48 hours, at the time of the autopsy. Moreover, no serious internal organ damage or underlying disease was found.

Zayn Rayyan's parents are currently on trial after they had been charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for neglecting their son in a manner likely to cause him physical injury.