Boyfriend charged with murdering Bella

JOHOR BARU: The young son of single mother Bella, who was murdered, repeatedly asks about his mother’s whereabouts and why she was being featured on TV.

Bella’s elder sister, Norisham Samsusah (pic), said the five-year-old boy had been asking about his mother.

“He asked why his mother’s picture was on TV and why she wasn’t coming back home,” Norisham shared.

Bella, whose real name was Mila Sharmilah Samsusah, was 32.

On Dec 14, it was reported that Bella, who had two children, could not be contacted since she was last seen leaving the house in her boyfriend’s car wearing only a dark blue caftan to do laundry at a laundromat.

Last Friday, an incomplete human skeleton was found in an abandoned house at Lorong Imam Jailani here after one of the arrested suspects led police to the scene.

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Police later confirmed the deceased was Bella.

Earlier in Batu Pahat, Bella’s boyfriend, Mohammad Haikal Mahfuz, 25, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court with her murder.

Bella’s sister talked about her nephew’s ordeal yesterday as she was speaking to the media after claiming her sister’s body at the Sultan Ismail Hospital Forensic Department mortuary here yesterday.

According to Norisham, 36, Bella’s family is still in disbelief about what happened.

Norisham also said that she will be taking care of Bella’s two children from now on. The youngest daughter, who is two years old, is currently being looked after by a babysitter.

Norisham, who works as a school clerk, hopes that the public will refrain from speculating about her sister’s death, as she expressed gratitude to those who have been supporting her family during this difficult time.

Bella’s body was brought to the Masjid Jamek Dato Bentara Luar in Batu Pahat for funeral prayers before being laid to rest at the Banang Jaya Muslim Cemetery.

Earlier, Norisham arrived at the Forensic Department with her stepfather Mohd Noor Omar, 57, and mother Noraini Salleh, 55, at 1.30pm.

Also present was celebrity preacher Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, or Ebit Lew, who had come to give the family moral support and help lead solat jenazah (funeral prayer) for Bella at the Forensic Department.

Meanwhile, former postman Mohammad Haikal nodded in understanding after the murder charge was read out to him before Magistrate Norasidah A. Rahman, Bernama reported.

However, no plea was recorded as a murder case falls under the High Court’s jurisdiction.

Mohammad Haikal was charged with murdering Bella between 11pm on Dec 14 and 5.30 am on Dec 15 last year between Jalan Kelapa Bali, Taman Soga and Jalan Parit Besar, Kampung Parit Besar, and also at an abandoned house at Lorong Imam Jailani, Jalan Besar, Tongkang Pechah, here.

The charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code provides a death sentence or imprisonment of between 30 and 40 years and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

The court set Feb 19 for mention pending the chemist’s report.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Khalijah Khalid prosecuted, while Mohammad Haikal was represented by lawyer Syahril Anuar.