The founder of Rumah Bonda, Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, was found guilty by the High Court here today, on two charges of neglecting and mistreating a teenage girl with Down syndrome, known as Bella, three years ago.
The judge, Datuk Noorin Badaruddin decided this after rejecting the appeal of Siti Bainun, 32.
On 3 May 2023, the Sessions Court here found the woman guilty of two counts of neglecting and abusing Bella.
For the first offense of neglecting Bella, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison while the mistreatment case, 12 years for the second charge.
The court ordered that both sentences run concurrently from the date of the law.
Judge, Izralizam Sanusi also ordered the accused to sign a good behavior bond for a period of five years with a surety including RM5,000 as an additional punishment.
She will also have to perform 200 hours of community service within six months after the end of her prison sentence with the conditions imposed.
Siti Bainun was taken to Kajang Prison, after the court rejected her application, to suspend the prison sentence.
On August 20, 2021, Siti Bainun was charged as the person responsible for taking care of a 13-year-old Down syndrome girl, having neglected that is by causing the child to suffer physical and emotional injury.
The offense was allegedly committed in a condominium unit in Section 10, Wangsa Maju here between February and June 2021.
On November 25 of the same year, the Founder of Rumah Bonda was charged again in the same court on charges of abusing the teenager, at the same location and date, according to the provisions of a similar section.
The case that shocked the country caught the attention of a large part of society including non-governmental organizations that fight for the fate of children like Bella.
At the argument proceedings that took place on March 7, lawyers Haijan Omar, Nur A'minahtul Mardiah Md Nor and Nurul Hafidzah Hassan were present to represent Siti Bainun as the appellant.
While the prosecution by the Deputy Public Prosecutor, Zahida Zakaria and Analia Kamaruddin as respondents.
Previously, the court set April 24 for the appeal decision, but that date was left open and postponed until today. -
