A WITNESS told the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today that she saw Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali holding Down’s syndrome child Bella’s chin and forcing her to eat fried rice mixed with a lot of chilli peppers.

Suhana Zam, 40, a legal research officer at a law firm, told the court that she was sitting at a dining table in a Wangsa Maju condominium owned by Siti Bainun during the incident in May 2021.

“Bella was standing facing Siti Bainun in front of the refrigerator and there was a wooden bench there. I saw Bainun put a plate of fried rice and a lot of cut chilli, much more than the fried rice.

“She (Siti Bainun) mixed the fried rice, she held Bella’s chin and forced Bella to eat it. Bella refused but was forced to eat.

“I was surprised to see Bella was treated like that. I didn’t say anything because at that time I didn’t want to confront Bainun face to face.

“I was worried about her reaction if confronted,” Suhana said to deputy public prosecutor, Nor Azizah Mohamad, during Siti Bainun’s trial, in which she is charged with child abuse.

Previously, Rumah Bonda resident Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, 18, told the court that Siti Bainun had fed Bella a pot of rice poured with vinegar, turmeric, salt, soy sauce, chilli and chilli flakes, as well as rotten fried chicken during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Suhana 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, 2021.

“I went to Bainun’s house because Bainun invited me to eat king crabs in ‘shell out’ style. When I arrived at the house 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 the size of a palm on the right side of her face. That was worst condition I’ve ever seen Bella in,” the witness said.

The eighth prosecution witness said that during her stay at the house, she saw Bella’s meal times were irregular, and whenever the teenager was punished to stand for hours by Siti Bainun she did not see anyone giving the girl any food or drink.

To Nor Azizah’s question about Bella’s condition when the teenager 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 that Bella was not allowed to drink or she would pee.

“I wanted to give food and drink to Bella 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.

Suhana also said that Siti Bainun’s house was not easily accessible because to enter the lobby of the condominium, one had to get a bar code.

Siti Bainun, 30, faces two counts of neglecting and abusing the girl, causing the victim to suffer physical and emotional injuries.

She is charged with committing the offences at a condominium in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021.

The charge was 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, June 13, 2022.