High Court upholds Siti
Bainun’s conviction in
Bella abuse case
The Rumah Bonda founder will continue serving her 12-year prison sentence for neglecting and abusing the teenager with Down Syndrome.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has upheld Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali’s conviction of neglecting and abusing a teenager with Down Syndrome known as Bella three years ago.
Justice Noorin Badaruddin also upheld the 12-year prison sentence imposed on Siti Bainun, after rejecting the 32-year-old’s appeal to set aside her conviction and sentence by the sessions court.
Noorin said the lower court committed no error in finding that the prosecution had successfully proven a prima facie case against Siti Bainun.
She cited the 18 wounds and scars on the victim’s body, which expert witnesses confirmed were not caused by accidents or the victim’s own doing.
On May 3, 2023, sessions court judge Izralizam Sanusi ordered Siti Bainun to serve 12 years in prison after dismissing her application to stay her sentence.
On May 23, 2023, the High Court also rejected her application to stay the sentence after finding that there were no special or exceptional circumstances warranting the move.
Siti Bainun was found guilty of abusing 13-year-old Bella at a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju here between February and June 2021.
She was ordered to sign a RM5,000 five-year good behaviour bond with one surety.
She was also directed to perform 200 hours of community service, to be completed within six months of her release from prison.
No comments:
Post a Comment