KUALA LUMPUR: Videos and audio clips of "Bella", the 13-year-old girl who was allegedly abused during her stay at the Rumah Bonda welfare home, was played at the Sessions Court today.
The clips proved traumatic for some in the gallery, who were seen wiping away tears.
Zuriaty Sudin, who shot the videos and is a key witness in the abuse case against Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainon Ahd Razali, told the court that she initially had no intention of recording the clips when she visited the latter's condo last year.
Zurianty, questioned by her counsel Nurul Hafidzah Hassan, said that upon seeing Bella's condition, she decided to record the videos to send them to Rumah Bonda adviser Syed Azmi Alhabshi, to prove that the girl was abused.
The court then played one of the videos, which was six minutes and 32 seconds long, that Zurianty shot on June 24 last year.
Zurianty, who was a close friend of Siti Bainon, was unable to compose herself and wept openly as the video played.
In the video, Zurianty's voice could be heard saying, "Allahuakbar, anak aku. Bella, siapa buat Bella? (My girl, Bella, who hurt you, Bella?)"
Bella, who has Down syndrome, is seen replying with "ikat" (tied up) and "semua" (everybody).
After the video ended, Hafidzah continued her cross-examination.
Hafidzah: Who were the first and second persons you sent the video to?
Zurianty: Syed Azmi and my husband.
Hafidzah: The third person?
Zurianty: Hospital doctors. Then I went home and sent the videos to other people as well as my family members and close friends.
Hafidzah: Initially, you took the video to send to Syed Azmi. But now it seems more than one person got the video.
Zurianty replied that she had sent the video to her friends via a WhatsApp group to seek emotional support after the traumatic experience of seeing Bella in such a state.
"I contacted my friends for emotional support and guidance on what should my next step be after I found Bella.
"I didn't know what to do, I had blanked out at the time. But I knew I had to do something to help with the investigation," she said amid sobs.
The court adjourned briefly to allow Zurianty to regain her composure.
After resuming the cross-examination, Zurianty said she did not have any bad intention in sending the video to other people apart from Syed Azmi.
"The reason why I contacted Syed Azmi first was because he is the Rumah Bonda adviser. He's also a child activist and was close to both Siti Bainun and I," she said.
Siti Bainun, 31, is charged with two counts of neglecting and abusing Bella to the point that the victim suffered physical and emotional injuries.
The offences were allegedly committed at a condominium in Wangsa Maju between February and June 2021.
The charges were framed 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 conviction.
The trial before Sessions Court judge Isralizam Sanusi continues.