Siti Bainun, 31, said she inquired about the medicine with a pharmacist through WhatsApp and informed the individual about Bella’s badly burned hand.

She said this during cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Shakira Aliana Alias while making her defence in the sessions court here today.

Siti Bainun is accused of neglecting and abusing the 13-year-old girl.

She disagreed with Shakira’s suggestion that Bella was only treated at home and that she went to the pharmacy because she wanted to hide the teenage girl’s wounds.

Shakira: I put it to you that you knew Bella was badly hurt and needed to be taken to the clinic, but you didn’t (take her to the clinic) because you were afraid that what you did to Bella will be exposed.

Siti Bainun: I disagree.

She also denied that Bella was looked after by a former resident of Rumah Bonda, Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, the fifth prosecution witness, when Bella was injured.

She did not agree with the prosecution’s suggestion that she did not seriously care for Bella and had given that responsibility to Yasmin.

During previous hearings, Yasmin had told the court that Siti Bainun ordered her to apply medicine on Bella’s wound and that the medicine was bought by the accused herself.

Siti Bainun is charged with neglecting and abusing Bella, causing her physical and emotional injury, at a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021.

The charge, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001, carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years or a fine of RM50,000 or both, if convicted.

The trial before judge Izralizam Sanusi continues.