Malaysian couple remanded in Sweden to be charged Monday

Azizul Raheem Awalludin (right) and his wife Shalwati Nurshal (left)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian couple held on remand in Sweden for hitting their son, is expected to be charged in a Stockholm district court on Monday.

Kristofer Stahre, counsel for the children's mother, Shalwati Nurshal, said the prosecutor, Anna Arnelle had told him that she would bring charges against the couple on Feb 10.

"The charges will become official on Feb 10, at 11:00 am (6pm Malaysian time)," he told Bernama via e-mail, adding that his client would contest the charge.

He said there would be no hearing in person on that day and that the prosecutor would hand in the charges by way of writing.

He added that the date for the initial hearing would probably be set on Feb 18 at 9am (4pm Malaysian time) and the trial was expected to last 14 days.

According to Stahre, his client was very thankful for the support she received from relatives who travelled to Sweden, but they would not necessarily be able to see Shalwati until the trial.

It is learnt that the defence teams (for both husband and wife) would appeal to the court to release the couple from remand since there was no way they could harm their children, who are now back in Malaysia.

Shalwati Norshal, a teacher on unpaid leave, and her husband Azizul Raheem, a Tourism Malaysia officer in Sweden, have been remanded since Dec 18 last year for allegedly hitting the hands of one of their sons for not praying.

Their remand has been extended thrice.

The Swedish judicial system does not allowed persons charged to be released on bail.

The couple's four children, who were previously placed under the care of a Swedish non-Muslim foster family, were handed over to the Malaysian Embassy here on Jan 30.

The children flew back to Malaysia on Jan 31 and are being taken care by their aunt and uncle in Kelantan.

Meanwhile, Sukarelawan Peguam Untuk Semua (Sukaguam) chairman, Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat said they believed the defence teams would give their best argument in defending their clients.

"We respect the legal procedures and laws in Sweden. So let the legal course take its place. We hope there will be no case against the couple," he said when contacted. - Bernama