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Zayn Rayyan murder: A timeline of events

Dec 5, 2023: Sarina Yusoff, the mother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Mattin, files a police report at 6.36pm after her six-year-old son goes missing.

She realises her son, who is autistic, is missing while climbing the stairs up to their third-floor apartment unit in Damansara Damai after picking him up from school.

Dec 6: A massive search and rescue operation is launched comprising multi-agencies, including the neighbourhood watch in Idaman Apartment.

At least 40 police personnel, aided by more than 60 residents, also conduct a door-to-door search covering 2,484 residential units at the 18-block apartment. K9 sniffer dogs were also roped in.

Dec 6: A resident aiding the search finds Zayn Rayyan's remains in the shallow waters of the riverbank at about 9.30pm.

The boy is fully clothed in the school uniform he was last seen in. His body is found just 200-metres from where he was last seen by his mother.

Dec 7: Zayn Rayyan's remains are brought to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The case is classified as sudden death, pending the results.

Dec 7: Police believe that Zayn Rayyan was killed elsewhere before his body was dumped along the banks of a stream in Damansara Damai.

They also believe that he died of strangulation.

Dec 7: Zayn Rayyan's body is released from the Sungai Buloh Hospital's Forensic Department at 5.55pm after the post-mortem examination concludes.

His body is later buried at the Seksyen 9 Muslim cemetery in Kota Damansara.

Dec 8: Autopsy results reveal signs of self-defence wounds on Zayn Rayyan's body, indicating that the cause of death was from injuries to the neck believed to be caused by strangulation.

Dec 9: Police record statements of five individuals, including his parents. The first person who discovered Zayn Rayyan's body was among the five who provided statements.

Dec 12: Police trace a trail of movements related to the murder through analysis of dashboard camera recordings from residents.

Dec 23: Police confirm seeking help from Interpol in the case. Evidence from the case had been sent to Interpol for further detailing and investigation, and to be cross-checked with Interpol database.

Jan 9, 2024: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain says investigation into the case is 90 per cent complete. He said police was gathering intelligence to apprehend the suspect who matched more than 50 per cent of the statements from witnesses and information they received.

Jan 29: Police reveal that they recorded the statements of more than 200 individuals in connection with Zayn Rayyan's murder.

Feb 23: Despite a RM20,000 reward on offer, police do not have any new leads relating to the case. The reward is from non-governmental organisation Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Selangor, in an effort to help solve the case.

March 21: Police's investigation over an internet protocol (IP) address detected at the location of Zayn Rayyan's body did not lead to the identification of a suspect. Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the IP address was "inconclusive" towards any particular individual.

May 8: Zayn rayyan's case still 'active' say police, despite receiving no new leads.

May 31: Police arrest Zayn Rayyan's parents at their family home in Puncak Alam, Selangor. The couple were brought to the Petaling Jaya police headquarters for further investigation. They were arrested under section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

June 1: The police obtained a seven-day remand order against the parents from June 1 until June 7 to facilitate police investigation into the case.

  Magistrate Azura Mohd Saad granted the remand application when the two suspects were presented to the court.

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