PETALING JAYA: The lively sounds of children playing, laughing, and running around have now hushed in Block R of Idaman Apartment.
What used to be a vibrant playground now wears a somber demeanor as the investigation into the tragic murder of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, a six-year-old autistic child, enters its fourth day.
Residents of the low-cost apartment complex were seen holding hands with their children, and some rode motorcycles with their kids, creating a subdued atmosphere.
A resident, choosing to remain anonymous, shared with New Straits Times that the playground used to come alive around 5pm when children gathered to play with their friends.
"Usually, the ice cream man would have a busy time as the kids enjoyed their favourite snacks," he recalled. When asked about the dark hallway in the apartment block even during the day, he mentioned that the hallway would be properly lit at 7pm when the lights are turned on.
He also noted that the community watch is not very active anymore since the current residents are relatively new. "It's challenging because some residents refuse to pay the maintenance fees," he added.
In recent developments, it was reported that the police have collected DNA samples from 228 individuals connected to the case. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan stated that the police have searched 2,484 units in the mentioned apartment and checked 5,628 individuals.
A forensic examination at the Sungai Buloh Hospital Forensic Department yesterday revealed evidence of injuries to Zayn Rayyan's neck and body, suspected to be the result of a criminal act. Consequently, the case, initially classified as a sudden death, has been reclassified as murder and is now under investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Earlier reports from New Straits Times indicated that Zayn Rayyan was noticed missing at 12.30pm on Tuesday, leading his mother to make announcements on social media and file a police report. After more than 30 hours of being missing, the body of the six-year-old victim was discovered near a river, approximately 200m from his residence in Block R, Idaman Apartment, Damansara Damai.