KUALA LUMPUR: Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali (pic) says she asked for the best medicine at a pharmacy to treat burns on the hand of a teenager with Down syndrome known as Bella.
Siti Bainun, 31, said she inquired about the medicine from a pharmacist through WhatsApp and mentioned Bella's badly burned hand.
ALSO READ: Siti Bainun admits Bella was hurt in her condo
Cross-examined by DPP Shakira Aliana Alias at the Sessions Court here on Monday (Feb 27), Siti Bainun disagreed with the suggestion that Bella was only treated at home to hide the teenage girl's wounds.
Shakira Aliana: I said you knew Bella was badly hurt and needed to be taken to the clinic, but you didn't because you were afraid of what you did to Bella being exposed?
Siti Bainun: Disagree.
ALSO READ: I love Bella more than any other child, Siti Bainun tells court
The accused also denied that Bella was cared for by a former resident of Rumah Bonda, Yasmin Nahar Mahmood (the fifth prosecution witness), when the teenager was injured.
Siti Bainun also disagreed with the prosecution's suggestion that she did not seriously care for Bella and gave that responsibility to Yasmin.
In earlier proceedings, Yasmin told the court that Siti Bainun ordered her to apply medicine on Bella's wound and the medicine was bought by the accused herself.
ALSO READ: Siti Bainun denies feeding Bella chilli and faeces
Siti Bainun is charged with neglecting and abusing the teenager, causing physical and emotional injury, in a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years or a fine of RM50,000 or both if convicted.
The trial continues before judge Izralizam Sanusi. – Bernama
