KUALA LUMPUR – Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali (picture) was sent to Kajang Prison today to serve a 12-year prison sentence after the Sessions Court here dismissed her application for a stay of execution of the prison sentence.
Judge Izralizam Sanusi said there are no special and exceptional circumstances for the court to allow a stay of the execution of the prison sentence.
“The accused was found guilty in this court and there is no reason for me to stay the prison sentence handed down against her. The factor that the accused is taking care of her mother is a personal matter.
“In this case, justice can best be served through the execution of the sentence immediately and therefore, the accused’s application is dismissed and the court orders the accused to serve the prison sentence immediately,” he said.
Earlier, he sentenced Siti Bainun to a total of 12 years in prison after finding her guilty of neglecting and abusing a teenage girl with Down syndrome, known as Bella.
Siti Bainun, 31, clad in soft yellow blouse and black pants, was seen to be calm when the court handed down the sentence.
In the application for the stay, her lawyer, Mohammad Farhan Maaruf, said that his client had never been convicted of any criminal offence and that this case was her first.
“She has never breached any bail conditions and there is no risk of her fleeing since her passport has been surrendered to the court.
“My client was also given high bail amounting to RM17,000 and she always attended the proceedings. If the stay is not allowed, then my client’s appeal to the High Court will be futile and the status quo of the accused will not be able to be maintained at all since the accused will have to serve the sentence first,” said the lawyer, adding that his client also had health problems. – Bernama
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