Trial for Malaysian couple held in Sweden starts on Tuesday

PETALING JAYA: The trial of the Malaysian couple accused of hitting their children in Sweden will start on Tuesday, said one of their lawyers.

Kristofer Stahre, who is representing Shalwati Nurshal, said the trial at the Solna district court in Stockholm would commence at 9am local time (4pm Malaysian time) and was expected to last for 10 days.

Stahre said Sweden’s Supreme Court had rejected his application to review Shalwati’s continued detention under remand throughout the trial.

“The Supreme Court has decided not to review the case, which means Shalwati will stay in remand during the trial,” he said.

The Supreme Court issued the decision on Tuesday.

Shalwati and her husband Azizul Raheem Awalluddin, who is a Tourism Malaysia employee in Stockholm, have been held in custody for 60 days since they were arrested on Dec 18.

There is no limit on the duration of a remand in Sweden, which some Malaysian lawyers described as harsh, unreasonable and disproportionate to the allegations.

Stahre said he did not know whether a similar application to review the remand order was filed at the Supreme Court by Azizul.

Azizul’s lawyer Jonas Tamm could not be reached for comment.

The couple were charged last Monday for assault and gross violation of their children’s integrity and will be jointly tried.

Upon conviction, the couple will face up to six years in prison.

According to the charge sheet against the couple issued by the court, they are alleged to have hit their four children on numerous occasions.

Stahre said his client denied the charges against her and was looking forward to testifying in court.

“My client and I are well prepared for the trial.”