RUMAH Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, who was charged with neglecting and abusing a Down syndrome girl known as Bella, today told the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court that she has been receiving harsh criticisms and even a death threats since the case went viral.

Siti Bainun, 31, said she had also lost her job as the shelter had been ordered to close and her restaurant had also been boycotted.

“But, there’s no point in crying over spilt milk. I was called to enter my defence on the unproven allegations and was criticised because of Zurianty Sudin’s action in spreading an edited video of Bella.

“Even the two investigating officers could not hear clearly (what was said in) the video recorded by Zurianty. I don’t understand why the investigating officers could say there was no need to see and hear the video, which is the basis of their investigation.

“If they could just listen and produce a transcript, the trial and investigation and even the charges will definitely not be prejudiced against me,” she said when reading her witness statement on the first day of her trial before judge Izralizam Sanusi.

Siti Bainun said she lost everything due to the baseless allegations made against her and she dared not go out due to the threats she received.

“When I sought medical treatment at a hospital, even the nurses tried to harm me, which prompted my lawyers to interfere to ensure my safety,” she said.

The woman was seen shedding tears as her statement touched on her friendship with Zurianty, who is the prosecution’s first witness.

“In 2017, Zurianty and her two children came and lived with me in my condominium in Wangsa Maju because she had no place to stay after her divorce from her second husband. She later rented a unit at the same condominium as her children wanted to be close to me.

“I pity her and I love her children. That’s why I didn’t mind having her staying at my house,” she said.

Siti Bainun said if Zurianty really meant to save Bella, she would not have played the abused-child-with-disabilities sentiment to get public attention and provoke anger among social media users, knowing that the people would hate and condemn her.

“When Bella was handed over back to the Social Welfare Department, Zurianty posted on Facebook about how much she pitied Bella, but in reality, she never wanted to adopt her and had only used Bella for her Facebook content.

“In fact, when the case came to light, she tried to be a hero and wanted to adopt one of the children under my custody, known as Jane, and not Bella,” she said.

On Bella’s injuries, Siti Bainun said she was made to understand that Balqis, another occupant of Rumah Bonda, had a fight with Bella and the two ran from the living room to the kitchen and laundry area where the thermos was placed.

“Yasmin (another occupant of Rumah Bonda) interfered and accidentally hit the kitchen shelf, causing the thermos with hot water in it to fall on Bella,” she said.

Siti Bainun said during the incident, she was not at home.

However, she said she had taken Bella to a clinic for treatment, but there were no new injuries as that was the only incident involving the girl.

On November 24 last year, the judge ordered Siti Bainun to enter her defence on two charges of neglecting and abusing Bella after the prosecution managed to establish a prima facie case against her at the end of the prosecution case.

Siti Bainun was alleged to have committed the offence in a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021.

The charges were framed under section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years or a fine of RM50,000 or both.

The trial continues tomorrow. – Bernama, January 26, 2023.