KUALA LUMPUR – The court has been commended by the lawyers appointed by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim to hold a watching brief in the abuse case against Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali.
The watching brief team, led by Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat, Datuk Dr Baljit Singh, Datuk Ikbal Salam, and Mohd Radzi Yatiman, said the presiding judge has ensured all documents are complete and the appeal proceedings were conducted fairly.
“Bearing the trust given by the Royal Highness Tunku Ismail and Che Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Bustamam, we express our gratitude to all parties for giving solid commitment in the course of this appeal, from the beginning of appeal filed until the results announced today,” they said in a statement today.
High court judge Datuk Noorin Badaruddin upheld a decision by the lower court that had convicted Siti Bainun last year for abusing and neglecting a Down’s syndrome teenager named Bella.
Noorin, in delivering her verdict today, said the sessions court had not erred in its decision and that there is no reason to dismiss the conviction.
Last year, sessions court judge Izralizam Sanusi sentenced Siti Bainun to 12 years in jail, a good behaviour bond for five years with one surety, and RM5,000 collateral, as well as to serve 20 aggregate hours of community service within six months after her jail term ends.
Initially, Izralizam sentenced Siti Bainun to 10 years in jail for neglect and 12 years in jail for abuse. However, she was ordered to serve the sentence concurrently.
Siti Bainun was charged in August 2021 with two counts of abusing and neglecting Bella, which resulted in physical and emotional distress for the teenage girl.
She was accused of committing the offence between February and June 2021 at a condominium in Wangsa Maju. She was charged under Section 3(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years, a fine of RM50,000 or both upon conviction.
On the day of the verdict, he also dismissed Siti Bainun’s application for a stay of sentence execution, saying that there were no special circumstances that would permit such a request. – May 2, 2024