KUALA LUMPUR: Netizens have come together on social media platforms, specifically on Twitter and Instagram, to show support for 13-year-old Bella, a Down Syndrome teenager at the centre of a court case involving the founder of a welfare home, Siti Bainun Ahd Razali.
Twitter has been flooded with strong worded tweets under the hashtag #Justiceforbella (currently trending in Malaysia), sending a strong message on the alleged abuse inflicted upon the teenager.
The tweets and retweets came after a lawyer shared a photograph of Siti Bainun with part of her line-up of seven lawyers/legal experts.
With the photo was a thread detailing some parts of the court proceedings (cross examination of a witness).
"Protecting an abuser is a crime against humanity #JusticeforBella," a netizen commented.
There were many more tweets expressing anger at the thread, with some asking if such a posting was to attract public interest.
"We may not get justice on Earth. Know that many are praying for Bella, a helpless child with Down Syndrome who has no one in her life. May the Almighty soothe Bella's pains away, remove her fears and trauma," another tweet read.
Lawyer Syahredzan Johan on Twitter, while not directly referencing any social media post, wrote: "I have represented individuals who I personally think are scum of the earth. But even scum have the right to legal representation. Everyone has the right; this is the principle I believe in. But I wouldn't take photos with these kind of people and post them on my social media."
Media reported that Bella was refused water because she did not obey Siti Bainun. Berita Harian reported Yasmin Nahar Mahmood, the fifth prosecution witness as telling the court that Bella was kicked in the stomach if she screamed and that chillies were fed to her.
Siti Bainun, 30, pleaded not guilty to two counts of abandonment and abusing Bella, resulting in the victim sustaining physical and emotional injuries at a condo unit in Wangsa Maju here between February and June 2021.
She was charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment or a RM50,000 fine, or both if convicted.
Yasmin also told the court that Bella had her head slammed against the wall and was ridiculed.