Bella fed 20 ‘cili padi’ several times a week, court told

 

Siti Bainun Ahd Razali is charged with two counts of abandonment and abusing Bella. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A teenage girl suffering from Down Syndrome was fed 20 “cili padi” several times a week by Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, the founder of a welfare home, the sessions court was told today.

Bella, 13, was also refused water because she did not obey Siti Bainun, Berita Harian reported.

Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, the fifth prosecution witness, told the court that Bella was scolded and told she would be given hot water if she failed to follow instructions.

She would also be kicked in the stomach if she were to scream, Yasmin said.

Yasmin said she and another resident, known as Aida, had counted the chillies to be fed to Bella.

When asked by Siti Bainun’s lawyer, Farhan Maaruf, if his client had instructed Yasmin to count the chillies, the latter said “yes”.

Siti Bainun, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of abandonment and abusing Bella, resulting in the victim sustaining physical and emotional injuries at a condo unit in Wangsa Maju here between February and June 2021.

She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment or a RM50,000 fine, or both if convicted.

Yasmin told the court that Siti Bainun had instructed her to hold Bella’s shoulder and tell her to kneel before threatening to give her hot water.

“She (Bella) also had her head slammed against the wall and was ridiculed,” the daily quoted her as saying.

Yasmin said she was instructed by Siti Bainun to cook five pieces of rotten chicken to be given to Bella and force her to eat rice that had been mixed with vinegar, chilli, salt, soy sauce and turmeric.

She also told the court that Siti Bainun had assaulted her (Yasmin) twice after accusing her of breaking plates.

The trial before Judge Izralizam Sanusi continues tomorrow. - FMT