THE Sessions Court has sentenced Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali to 12 years in jail and ordered the accused to perform 200 hours of community service for neglecting and abusing a teenage girl with Down’s syndrome known as Bella.

The 31-year-old is sentenced to 10 years in prison for the first charge of neglecting Bella, and another 12 years for the second charge of abusing the teenager.

The sentences will run concurrently, which means Siti Bainun will only spend 12 years behind bars.

Earlier, judge Izralizam Sanusi said the prosecution succeeded in proving beyond a reasonable doubt the charges against the orphanage owner.

“I hereby find the accused guilty of the first and second charges in accordance with section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001,” said Izralizam. 

The crimes against the 13-year-old girl were committed in a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021. – May 3, 2023.