KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here has ordered Siti Bainun Ahd Razali to start serving her 12-year jail sentence for the neglect and abuse of Down Syndrome teenager named Bella, from Wednesday (May 3).
This follows Sessions Court judge Izralizam Sanusi's decision to dismiss the Rumah Bonda founder's application for a stay of execution on her sentence, which was meted out earlier Wednesday.
Siti Bainun was sentenced to 10 years' jail for negligence and 12 years for abuse, with both sentences to run concurrently from the date of sentencing.
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Her lawyer, Mohammad Farhan Maaruf, then applied for a stay of execution pending an appeal to the High Court.
In his dismissal, Izralizam said the defence had not shown any exceptional circumstances that warrants a stay.
"This court has convicted the accused and there is no reason that could convince me to order a stay of execution.
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"The defence cited that the accused needed to care for her mother but this is a private factor involving family members.
"Filing a notice of appeal is not justification for a stay. I am of the opinion that justice in this case must be served with the sentence immediately carried out," he said.
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Siti Bainun was convicted of two offences of neglect and abuse involving Bella at a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021.
The charges are framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children's Act 2001 which carries a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment or a fine of RM50,000 or both if convicted.
