KUALA LUMPUR: Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali (pic) was seen holding the chin of Down Syndrome teenager Bella and forcing her to eat fried rice mixed with a lot of chillies, the Sessions Court here heard.
Legal research officer Suhana Zam, 40, told the court she witnessed the episode while sitting at a dining table in a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju, owned by Siti Bainun, during the incident in May last year.
"Bella was standing facing Siti Bainun in front of the refrigerator and there was a wooden bench there. I saw Siti Bainun put a plate of fried rice and a lot of cut chillies, much more than the fried rice.
"She (Siti Bainun) mixed the (chillies and) rice, held Bella's chin and forced her to eat it. Bella refused but was forced to eat.
"I was surprised to see Bella treated like that. I didn't say anything because at that time I didn't want to confront Siti Bainun as I was worried about her reaction,” the witness said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad at Siti Bainun's trial.
In earlier proceedings, Rumah Bonda resident Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, 18, told the court Siti Bainun had fed Bella rice mixed with vinegar, turmeric, salt, soy sauce, chilli and chilli flakes, as well as rotten fried chicken, during the fasting month.
Suhana also said she saw a palm-sized bruise on the right side of Bella's face when she went to Siti Bainun's house on June 13 last year.
"I went there because Siti Bainun invited me to eat crabs. When I arrived at 5pm I saw Bella's hair was cut short and she was wearing a long-sleeved shirt.
"Bella looked scared and there was a bruise on the right side of her face. That was the worst condition I've ever seen Bella in,” said the witness.
The eighth prosecution witness said that during her stay at the house, she noticed that Bella's mealtimes were irregular, and whenever the teenager was punished by Siti Bainun and made to stand for hours, she did not see anyone giving the girl food or drink.
To Nor Azizah's question about Bella’s condition when she was not given food and drink for hours, Suhana said that the teenager stood alone and could not speak.
Suhana added that Siti Bainun told her Bella was not allowed to drink or she would urinate.
"I wanted to give her food and drink but I wasn’t sure if my actions would anger Siti Bainun. I was also scared of not following the house rules. It is Siti Bainun’s house," the witness added.
Siti Bainun, 30, faces two counts of neglecting and abusing Bella, causing her to suffer physical and emotional injuries.
She is charged with committing the offences at a condominium in Wangsa Maju here between February and June last year. The charge is framed under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001, and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment or a fine of RM50,000, or both, if convicted.
The trial before Judge Izralizam Sanusi continues. – Bernama
