Malaysian couple in Sweden charged with assault and violating children’s integrity

PETALING JAYA: Charges have been filed in a Stockholm court against Malaysian couple, Tourism Malaysia officer Azizul Raheem Awalludin and teacher Shalwati Norshal, who were accused of hitting their child, a Swedish English language news website reported.

The Local reported on Monday that case prosecutor Anna Arnell had filed charges of assault and gross violation of their children’s integrity.

"In my judgment, the information provided by the children via remote video interrogation is trustworthy," Arnell said in a statement.

"Together with other accompanying proof, such as witnesses and items that have been seized from the home, there are good grounds for the indictment," she said.

The trial is set to begin on Feb 18th and is expected to last for 10 days.

The defence lawyer to the children’s mother told the online news website that Shalwati felt relieved that the prosecution had finally brought charges as she would now be able to prove her innocence.

"She has been waiting a long time for this, it's been a tough time for her in jail, but now she is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel," Shalwati’s lawyer Kristofer Stahre was quoted as saying.

"It's difficult to speculate what will happen, but of course I hope my client will be freed. She hasn't done any of the things of which she's been accused," Stahre added.

Shalwati, a teacher on unpaid leave, had been remanded since Dec 18 last year for allegedly hitting the hands of one of their sons for not praying. Their remand had been extended thrice.

The Swedish judicial system does not allow 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.

Aishah Azizul Raheem, 14, and her brother Ammar, 12, are in Form Three and Form One, respectively, at SMK Padang Kala.

Their younger siblings Adam, 11, and Arif, seven, have enrolled in Year Six and Year Two at SK Padang Kala.