KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has set a date of October 12 to hear the appeal of Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, the founder of Rumah Bonda, against her conviction and 12-year jail sentence for neglecting and abusing a teenage girl with Down Syndrome, known as Bella. The hearing date was fixed during today’s case management proceedings, as confirmed by Deputy Public Prosecutor Zilfinaz Abbas. However, the appeal petition has not been received yet, and the court has scheduled the next case management for September 14.
Siti Bainun’s lawyer, Fatin Syaza Irdina Muhamad Eddin Syazri, also confirmed the hearing date. This comes after the High Court dismissed Siti Bainun’s application to stay her 12-year jail sentence while awaiting her appeal. High Court judge Justice Ahmad Bache cited the absence of special or exceptional circumstances as the reason for the dismissal.
Earlier, on May 3, Sessions Court judge Izralizam Sanusi sentenced Siti Bainun to 12 years in prison for neglecting and abusing the 13-year-old girl at a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021. Izralizam found Siti Bainun guilty of two counts of offense. In addition to the jail sentence, Siti Bainun was ordered to sign a five-year good-behavior bond with a local guarantor and a surety of RM5,000. She was also instructed to complete 200 hours of community service within six months after serving her time.
It is now up to the High Court to hear Siti Bainun’s appeal and make a final decision regarding her conviction and jail sentence. The case has garnered significant attention, as it involves the welfare of a vulnerable teenager with Down Syndrome. Stay tuned for updates as the legal proceedings progress. 
Credit: The Star : News Feed
