Bella was tied up, stripped naked, had hot water poured onto her for merely pulling off the curtains

KUALA LUMPUR – An incident where the curtains of a bedroom were pulled off, was the reason Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali started hating Bella.

This was revealed by the welfare home's resident Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, 19, in Siti Bainun’s trial for neglecting and abusing the 13-year old down syndrome girl, at the Sessions Court, today.

Under cross-examination by the accused’s lawyer Asiah Jalil, Yasmin said since the incident, Siti Bainun started scolding and beating Bella.

However, the fifth prosecution witness said she did not know why Siti Bainun had treated Bella in such a way.

Yasmin said Bella had been mentally abused in February, last year and a month after that the physical abuse began.

Asiah: Previously you said you moved into Rumah Bonda in March, 2021, how did you know Bella was abused in February?

Yasmin: Emotionally, she was abused from February 2021.

Asiah: I put to you that Bella had lived with Siti Bainun from July 14 to October 2020 at Rumah Bonda in Setapak before she moved into the Rumah Bonda condominium in Wangsa Maju?

Yasmin: Yes

Asiah: In February, Bella was not abused?

Yasmin: Yes

Asiah: Then why was she suddenly being abused?

Yasmin: I don’t know

Asiah: In March, what had happened which caused Siti Bainun to tie up Bella, strip the girl naked before pouring hot water onto her?

Yasmin: Bella had went into the second room and pulled off the curtains and when Siti Bainun knew about it, she became angry and started beating Bella.

Asiah: Whose room was it?

Yasmin: Mine and my other younger siblings

The witness said Siti Bainun had once instructed her to tie Bella up, strip the victim naked and pour hot water onto the girl.

She said the accused had asked her to do so to make sure that Bella did not move before pouring the hot water at certain parts of Bella's body.

On Aug 20, last year, Siti Bainun, 30, as a person having the care of the child was charged with neglecting 13-year old Bella in a manner likely to cause her physical or emotional injury.

She was hauled to court again on Nov 20, the same year, and charged with abusing the girl.

The offences were allegedly committed at a condominium in Wangsa Maju, between February and June, last year.

The trial before judge Izralizam Sanusi continues.