KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will work closely with lawyers appointed by Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim in the trial over the abuse of Down Syndrome teenager Bella.
The Johor Crown Prince had earlier shared that he would contact Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun to offer the services of his lawyers for free to hold a watching brief in the trial involving the 13-year-old Down Syndrome teenager.
Rina Harun, in response to this today, extended her gratitude to Tunku Ismail and his wife Che Puan Besar Khaleeda Bustaman for their concern over Bella's case and the efforts made to defend justice.
"We thank you for offering free legal services to carry out a watching brief on behalf of the ministry for this case. This is very meaningful for the ministry in strengthening efforts to uphold justice for Bella.
"The ministry welcomes this invitation and will work closely with the lawyers appointed by DYAM Tuanku. Menjunjung kasih DYAM Tuanku.
"For Keluarga Malaysia, in this holy month of Ramadan, let us continue to pray for the truth and justice to be proven at the end of the trial," she wrote on Twitter.
The Sessions Court, yesterday, was told that Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali began disliking Bella after the girl pulled a curtain and dislodged it from the rod.
Siti Bainun, 30, is charged with two counts of neglecting and abusing the teenager to the point that the victim suffered injuries, physically and emotionally. She pleaded not guilty.
The offences were allegedly committed at a condominium in Wangsa Maju here, between February and June 2021, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years or a fine of RM50,000 or both, upon condition.