Bite marks on Bella’s stomach caused by fight with another resident - Siti Bainun
KUALA LUMPUR - Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali told the Sessions Court here that the bite marks on the stomach of down syndrome girl known as Bella was caused by a fight with a former Rumah Bonda resident known as Balqis.
Reading her witness statement on the second day of her trial, Siti Bainun, 31, said during the incident, Bella and Balqis were fighting over a facial wash.
Further explaining the matter before judge Izralizam Sanusi, the accused said the fight ended with the two residents biting each other.
She said to help ease the pain, she applied minyak gamat (sea cucumber oil) and ointment on Bella’s stomach.
“I was mad at both of them as any other parents would be when scolding and advising their children when they fought.
“Bella understood if she was scolded, Balqis understood it too, but they always quarrelled with each other,” she said referring to the injuries on Bella.
In April last year, fifth prosecution witness former Rumah Bonda resident Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, 20, told the court that Siti Bainun had instructed her to bite Bella in the stomach.
On the issue of the burn marks on Bella, the accused said it happened when they (Bella and Balqis) were fighting in May 2021 causing a thermos filled with hot water to spill on the victim.
Since the incident which occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, Siti Bainun said she purchased a medicine to treat the burn marks.
She said the wounds healed within a month except for the part on the victim’s wrists.
“I brought Bella to the surgical pathology clinic for a follow-up treatment and met with a doctor who was quite old.
“The doctor told me Bella’s wounds were healing,” she said.
On Aug 20, 2021, Siti Bainun was charged with neglecting the Bella until the latter suffered physical and emotional injuries.
She was hauled to court again on Nov 20, the same year for abusing the same victim.
On Nov 24, last year, she was ordered to enter her defence on all charges.
