High Court grants unconditional custody of autistic child's sibling to father Zaim Ikhwan

The High Court ruled on May 20, 2026, granting unconditional custody of the 7-year-old autistic child’s younger brother to his biological father, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari. The court set aside the 14 conditions and RM2,000 bond previously imposed by the Magistrate's Court on November 21, 2025, which had governed the child's custody for nearly six months ^{[1, 2]}.

Judge Suriyati Hasimah Mohd Hashim said, "The order issued by the Magistrate on November 21, 2025 is set aside. The RM2,000 bond and additional conditions imposed by the Magistrate for a period of three years are also set aside." ^{[1, 2]}

Before the magistrate's order in November, the child had been under the custody of his great-aunt and the Welfare Department for 18 months. The younger sibling is seven years old and diagnosed with autism ^{[1, 2]}.

The child's mother, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, was sentenced on October 31, 2025, to five years in prison for neglect causing physical injury to her late autistic son, Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin. The court also imposed a two-year good behaviour bond and RM3,000 bail on her. Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Aida Mat Rifin led the prosecution ^{[1, 2]}.

Judge Dr Syahliza Warnoh noted that the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt, ordering Ismanira’s sentence to take effect immediately alongside a local surety bond and bail ^[2].

Following the High Court decision, Zaim Ikhwan’s lawyer, Lavanesh Haresh Mahadevan, welcomed the ruling and expressed hope that the appeal related to Ismanira’s prison sentence would also succeed, allowing the family to reunite. "The defence was grateful for the decision and hoped that the appeal involving Zaim Ikhwan’s wife, Ismanira Abdul Manaf, would also be allowed so the family could be reunited," Lavanesh said ^{[1, 2]}.

Zaim Ikhwan had filed an appeal against the Magistrate's conditions and bond on November 26, 2025, following the initial November 21 court order ^{[1, 2]}.

The High Court’s ruling removes restrictions on Zaim Ikhwan’s custody rights and formalizes his full custodial care of his younger child.

The next legal step awaits the outcome of the pending appeal concerning Ismanira Abdul Manaf’s five-year prison sentence.