PETALING JAYA, Oct 31 — The Sessions Court has sentenced Ismanira Abdul Manaf to five years’ imprisonment after finding her guilty of neglecting her autistic son, the late Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, in a manner likely to cause physical harm.

The court also dismissed her lawyers’ request for a stay of execution and ordered her to begin serving the sentence immediately.

Judge Syahliza Warnoh handed down the sentence when proceedings resumed at about 11am.

In addition to the sentence, the court ordered the 30-year-old to enter into a two-year good behaviour bond and perform 120 hours of community service within six months of completing her jail term.

Ismanira was convicted under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ jail, a fine of up to RM50,000, or both.

Zayn, six, who had autism, was reported missing on December 5, 2023.

His body was discovered the following day in a stream near the family’s home at Idaman Apartment in Damansara Damai.

A post-mortem later confirmed he died from strangulation.

Ismanira was charged with neglect in June 2024, while her husband, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari, however was subsequently acquitted after the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.