Swedish child abuse couple to be released in July and September

Shalwati (left) and Azizul

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian couple found guilty of beating their children in Sweden are to be freed in July and September respectively, said Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

The announcement was made by Annuar via his official Facebook account as he travelled to Sweden.

In a visit to the Anstalten Hinseberg prison about 3 hours drive from the capital Stockholm, Musa met up with Shalwati Norshal, wife of Tourism Malaysia director in Stockholm Azizul Raheem Awalluddin.

According to Annuar, Shalwati was moved to Anstalten Hinseberg from the Stockholm prison.

“The prison officers were very polite but strict. Documentation and body inspection were quite strict. Only three people were allowed in. Alhamdulillah, at around 1.25pm we managed to meet Pn Shalwati and spent some time talking until 3pm,” he said.

Annuar added that Shalwati was doing well and happy to hear news of her family and children in Kelantan.

Annuar also mentioned that the children are living under the parliamentary area of Ketereh.

“Insyallah, her husband will be released this July and Shalwati at the end of September,” he added.

Annuar prayed for the couple to remain strong during in facing their sentence as the laws in Sweden are foreign and different from that of Malaysia.

On Feb 10, Shalwati and Azizul were charged with multiple counts of gross violation of a child's integrity, by hitting and abusing their children.

The alleged offences took place in the family's home in Spånga, a Stockholm suburb, between Sept 15, 2010 and Dec 17, 2013. Both  were arrested on Dec 18, 2013.

Shalwati, 46, was handed a 14-month prison sentence while Azizul, 38, was handed a sentence of 10 months prison.

It is understood that the early release is in accordance with a reduced sentence for good behaviour dating back to the original date of arrest.

The court also ordered Shalwati and Azizul to pay their children 67,200 SEK (RM33,900) and 36,400 SEK (RM18,362) respectively.