KUALA LUMPUR: Rumah Bonda founder, Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, withdrew her appeal in the High Court here today to postpone the execution of her 12-year prison sentence for two convictions of neglecting and abusing a Down syndrome teenager known as Bella, three years ago.
Lawyer Asyraaf Abu Bakar Hamzah, representing Siti Bainun, 32, as the applicant, informed the court that they had received instructions from their client to withdraw the application for execution and the sentence filed in the same court on June 6.
"We have received instructions from our client to withdraw the application and will focus on the case in the Court of Appeal later," he said during the case mention before Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid.
Upon hearing this, Azhar then allowed Siti Bainun's application, who was exempted from attendance today.
On May 23 last year, Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk Ahmad Bache rejected Siti Bainun's application to postpone the execution of the 12-year prison sentence, after finding no special or extraordinary circumstances to allow the suspension.
On May 2, in the Kuala Lumpur High Court before Judge Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, the woman, who is active in charity work, remained convicted and sentenced to prison, as decided by the Sessions Court earlier.
According to the first and second charges, Siti Bainun was accused of neglecting and abusing the 13-year-old victim, causing her physical and emotional injuries at a condominium in Wangsa Maju here from February to June 2021.
The charges were brought under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison or a fine of RM50,000 or both, upon conviction.
For the first charge, Siti Bainun was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while for the second charge, she was sentenced to 12 years, with both sentences running concurrently from the date of conviction.
In addition to the prison sentence, Siti Bainun was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, which must be completed within six months after the prison sentence ends.