The witness, Suhana Zam, 40, a legal research officer at a law firm, was speaking during the examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad at the trial of Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali who was accused of neglecting and abusing the 13-year-old girl.
Suhana said she saw the incident when she went to the condominium unit with her adopted sister, Haiza, to celebrate Aidilfitri with Siti Bainun, who was her friend, and the occupants of the house on May 21, last year.
“That night, I was doing some office work until 4am. I wanted to take out some rubbish but I did not turn on the lights. I stumbled upon Bella who was lying on the floor of the laundry room. I was shocked and at a loss for words because that was the first time I saw Bella in that situation,” she said.
Nor Azizah: You stumbled upon Bella and what did you do?
Suhana: Bella was lying on her left side. I bumped into her and she wasn’t even surprised. I stood there for about 10 to 15 seconds, just looking at her. I couldn’t believe what I saw.
“Then I closed and locked the door and went into the room (assigned to me) to sleep. I tried to sleep but could not because I was thinking about Bella’s condition,” said the eighth prosecution witness.
“I had planned to stay at the condominium for two days. When I first arrived, I saw Bella standing by the wall facing the dining table, and there was an injury on her neck. Her skin had burn marks and was red,” she said.
Suhana also said that during the Hari Raya feast, she saw Bella standing by the refrigerator and the teenager did not wear a Hari Raya dress. She was only wearing a T-shirt and trousers.
“Siti Bainun then told a resident of the house, known as Aida, to change Bella’s clothes, after Haiza called Bella to join the others in the ‘bersalam’ session in the living room of the condominium,” she said, adding that Bella looked cheerful and smiled when she was participating in the event.
Suhana, who has been friends with Siti Bainun for 10 years, said that Bella was hugging Bainun for the longest time and did not want to let go but Siti Bainun only said: “Okay, okay.”
Asked by Nor Azizah about Bella’s injuries, the witness replied: “The main injuries were burn marks. I was shocked and asked Siti Bainun what happened to Bella and Siti Bainun said that Bella and her ‘siblings’ were playing with hot water.
Nor Azizah: Who are Bella’s ‘siblings’?
Suhana: Aida and Balqis but not Yasmin, that’s all I know. I told Siti Bainun that she shouldn’t let the girls fight like that and Siti Bainun replied: “I can’t do anything because once Aida is angry she loses her mind.”
Meanwhile, Suhana said when she stayed over at the condominium in April last year, she saw Bella standing unhappily by the wall and did not dare to look at her.
Nor Azizah asked how long Bella had been standing there and Suhana replied: “I arrived at the condominium around 9pm and Bella was already there. When I went to bed at midnight, Bella was still there. Bella looked sad, scared, and she was not talking. She just stared at the floor.
Nor Azizah: Did you ask Siti Bainun why Bella was like that?
Suhana: Bella was being punished but I did not ask for what reason.
Nor Azizah: How many nights did you sleep at the condo?
Suhana: Just one night but Siti Bainun invited me to go over to another house because there was a birthday celebration for Jane, one of the children under her care. Bella was not included and was left alone in the condominium.
According to Suhana, she had seen Bella standing at the same spot for more than 10 hours when she went back to the condo after having breakfast with Siti Bainun at a restaurant in Chow Kit.
She said Siti Bainun gave Bella papers and pencils to draw and Bella was seen sitting on the floor, drawing from morning to evening.
“I could see that Bella was not feeling comfortable as she was falling asleep and when Balqis shouted out to report that Bella was falling asleep, Siti Bainun would call out loudly to Bella from her room, telling her to continue drawing,” said the witness.
Siti Bainun, 30, faces two counts of neglecting and abusing Bella, causing the victim to suffer physical and emotional injuries.
She was charged with committing the offences at a condominium in Wangsa Maju here between February and June 2021. The charge was framed under Section 31 (1) (a) of the Child Act 2001 and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment or a fine of RM50,000 or both, if convicted.
The trial before judge Izralizam Sanusi continues on June 13.