JOHOR BARU – A group of lawyers holding a watching brief in the hearing on allegations of abuse and neglect of a 13-year-old girl with Down Syndrome want priority to be given to her case so that she can begin a new life as soon as possible.
The group, consisting of Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu, Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat, Datuk Ikbal Salam and Mohd Razi Yatiman, said that the girl only identified as Bella had experienced physical and emotional trauma.
“Indeed, justice for this case needs to be obtained immediately so that parents or guardians, especially of children with disabilities, take the welfare aspects of the children in their care seriously,” they said in a statement today.
They said that they are satisfied with the session court’s finding that a prima facie case has been established against Rumah Bonda home founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, who had been ordered to enter her defence on two charges of neglecting and abusing Bella.
“The court’s finding today is a manifestation of the struggle of Bella and the community to seek justice.
“We as the observing lawyers appointed by His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, the Johor crown prince, are committed to continuing to assist the court in the proceedings of the defence case scheduled to begin on 5 December 2022,” the group added.
Earlier, session court judge Izralizam Sanusi ruled that the prosecution has successfully established a prima facie case against Siti Bainun. He ordered Siti Bainun Ahd Razali to enter her defence on the charges.
This came after the prosecution closed its case on October 28 after calling 22 witnesses in the trial, which began on March 30 this year. – The Vibes, November 24, 2022
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