KUALA LUMPUR: A 13-year-old girl with Down Syndrome known as Bella appeared at the Sessions Court here yesterday for identification proceedings in the trial of Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad informed the court that apart from Bella, there were five other individuals aged between three and 17 present in court for the identification proceedings.
Previously, the six individuals were under the care of Siti Bainun at the shelter home, reported Bernama.
They will be identified by three witnesses, namely a company assistant manager Zurianty Sudin, 39, Rumah Bonda resident Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, 19, and a law firm’s legal research officer Suhana Zam, 40.
Bella, clad in a blue shirt, black pants and grey scarf, was brought into the witness room at 9.50am by officers from the Social Welfare Department and greeted by lawyer Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat who was appointed by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, to hold a watching brief in the trial.
A total of eight prosecution witnesses have testified in the case and Suhana, who is also the eighth witness, continued her testimony yesterday.
Siti Bainun, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of neglect and abusing Bella, to the point of causing the victim to suffer physical and emotional injuries.
She is charged with committing the act at a condominium in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021 under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine of up to RM50,000 or both, on conviction.
The trial before judge Izralizam Sanusi continues.
