KUALA LUMPUR: Welfare home Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali was today charged with child neglect of a 13-year-old girl who has Down Syndrome.
Siti Bainun, 29, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her before Sessions Court judge Izralizam Sanusi.
She was alleged to have neglected the girl causing the victim to suffer physical and emotional wounds.
She was accused of committing the offence at her house near Seksyen 10, Wangsa Maju between February and June this year.
The offence, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, carries maximum fine of RM50,000 or maximum 20 years imprisonment or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Shakira Aliana Alias offered RM20,000 bail with one surety and asked the accused to surrender her passport until the disposal of the case.
"This is a public interest case and it involves a 13-year-old Down Syndrome girl who had been under her care at home.
"We also want the court to order the accused to not disturb our witnesses and the victim," she said.
Counsel Nur'Aminahtul Mardiah Md Nor, who represented the accused, pleaded for minimum bail stating that her client had given full cooperation during the police investigation.
"We also want the court to consider her involvement in non-governmental organisations since 10 years ago where she had rescued 60 women with children out of wedlock.
"My client is not a flight risk as she wants to clear her name in court," she said.
The court set RM12,000 bail with one surety and ordered the accused to surrender her passport until the case disposal.
The court also fixed Oct 4 for hearing.
It was reported that the girl was found with burn marks on her chest, hands, neck, and thighs on July 6.
The home where she was found was also discovered to have been operating illegally since 2019 and had not registered with the welfare department.
Following the incident, several police reports were made against the suspect before videos and pictures of the child went viral on social media, causing public outrage against her.
The girl had been under the care of Taman Sinar Harapan Tuanku Ampuan Najihah in Seremban since 2011 before being transferred to a welfare home owned by an NGO as an adopted child last year. - NST
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