Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, who is facing charges of neglecting and abusing the Down syndrome girl known as Bella, was today ordered by the Sessions Court to give her statement of defence even without being represented by any lawyer.

The order was made by judge Izralizam Sanusi after deciding that the defence proceedings must go on so as not to disrupt the course of the case.

“The court has absolute discretion to...