KUALA LUMPUR – The sessions court here was told today that there were no records of damage to a water purifier said to have been used to dispense hot water to injure a teenage girl with Down syndrome known as Bella.
Rohaini Baharom from the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters’ Sexual, Women, and Children Investigation Division (D11) said this was based on records provided by the water purifier company concerned.
“I then made further investigations into the documents obtained via email on November 11 2021, and found in the service record for the year 2021, nothing was mentioned about the water dispenser being faulty,” she said.
The 20th prosecution witness said this when re-examined by deputy public prosecutor Nor Azizah Mohamad at the trial of the welfare home founder, Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, who is accused of neglecting and abusing Bella.
As such, the witness’ testimony contradicts a suggestion made earlier by Siti Bainun’s lawyer who dismissed claims that hot water was poured on Bella because the water dispenser at her client’s house had been broken since March 2021.
Previously, Yasmin Nahar Mohmood, 19, told the court that Siti Bainun had asked her to splash hot water from the water dispenser on Bella three times a week using a plastic cup and a syringe.
However, Yasmin, who is also the fifth prosecution witness, admitted that the scalds suffered by Bella were caused by hot water from a thermos and not a water dispenser.
When asked by Siti Bainun’s lawyer, Nurul Hafidzah Hassan, if the service document was signed by Siti Bainun, the witness said she was not sure.
The witness also disagreed with Nurul Hafidzah who suggested that any conclusion made by her based on the documents received via email was not conclusive as she did not know who signed the document.
When asked how she knew who signed the document, Rohaini replied that a technician from the water purifier company confirmed it.
Meanwhile, a former maintenance technician, Azrin Aisyah Mohd Razi, 32, told the court that the water dispenser was in good working condition when she came to service the unit on May 17 last year.
“Before servicing the machine, I had to make sure that it was working properly because it is a digital water purifier.
“I then pressed the button to test the hot and cold water and ensure their PH levels,” she said, adding that Siti Bainun had informed her that there was a leak in the connecting pipe.
The 21st prosecution witness said she took 20 minutes to service the machine and as soon as the task was completed, Siti Bainun signed the document.
Siti Bainun, 30, is facing two charges of neglecting and abusing Bella, causing the victim to suffer physical and emotional injuries between February and June 2021 at a condominium unit in Wangsa Maju here.
The hearing before judge Izralizam Sanusi continues tomorrow. – Bernama, October 26, 2022
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