Sessions court judge Izralizam Sanusi ruled this morning that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Siti Bainun, 30, Bernama reported.

Siti Bainun had pleaded not guilty to two charges of abuse and neglect which resulted in physical and emotional distress to Bella between February and June 2021 at a condominium in Wangsa Maju here.

She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine of RM50,000, or both, if convicted.

The prosecution was handled by deputy public prosecutors Nor Azizah Mohamad, Zilfinaz Abbas, Zahida Zakaria, Fazeedah Faik and Shakira Aliana Alias.

Siti Bainun was represented by lawyers Nur Aminahtul Mardiah Nor, Farhan Maaruf, Nurul Hafidzah Hassan, Asiah Abd Jalil and Nur Ellena Razif.

Also present were Khairul Anwar Rahmat, Ikbal Salam and Radzi Yatiman, who were appointed by the Johor regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim as observer lawyers.

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