KUALA LUMPUR: Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali is to enter her defence against charges of neglect and abuse of a 13-year-old girl on Jan 16 after proceedings had been postponed several times.
The High Court here dismissed Siti Bainun’s application for a revision of a sessions court decision that she should enter her defence, Bernama reported.
The court rejected an application by her lawyer to postpone the defence proceedings pending an appeal against today’s verdict.
The sessions court later set the hearing of her defence to begin on Jan 16 after being informed the court about the High Court decision.
Siti Bainun will be the first of 16 witnesses to testify, said sessions court judge Izralizam Sanusi. The 16 comprise 11 defence witnesses, four witnesses offered by the prosecution and one prosecution witness recalled to testify.
Siti Bainun is charged with neglecting and abusing 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome known as Bella causing physical and emotional injuries at a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ jail or a fine of RM50,000 or both.
