Emotional 'virtual' reunion for four siblings and mother

It was an emotional 'virtual' reunion for the four children of the Malaysian couple, who were detained in Sweden last year after they spoke via a video-call with their mother, Shalwati Norshal after her release from a Swedish prison on Monday.

Shalwati's eldest child, Aisyah Azizul Rahim, 14 along with her three siblings could not contain their tears after speaking to their mother during the 10-minute conversation.

Aisyah also shared some light moments when she joked with Shalwati in Kelantanese dialect during the chat.

“I'm very happy and grateful to hear her voice and see her face as I have not spoken to her for over a year,” said Aisyah whose only wish now is to meet her mother.

She also added that it would be more meaningful for the family to get together during the upcoming Hari Raya Haji celebration in Kelantan, said Aisyah when met at her aunt’s residence, Sharlina Norshal in Padang Kala Peringat, last night.

Aisyah's siblings -- Ammar 13, Adam, 12, and Arif, 8 -- were also present when the video conference took place.

Aisyah said she is grateful for the efforts by the various organisations to assist in her mother's release.

“I would like to express my utmost thank you to everyone who has supported the family," she said.

Shalwati was released from court of Sweden in Solna district at 9.35am local time yesterday.

Sharlina, who has not spoken to Shalwati since her sister was detained, admitted that no words could express her contentment after talking to her sister.

Sharlina said her family will meet Shalwati at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport on Wednesday.

On March 29 last year, Azizul Raheem, a Tourism Malaysia officer and his wife, Shalwati, were sentenced to imprisonment for hitting their four children since September, 2010.

Azizul Raheem, was released on July 9 after a three-month jail sentence in Sweden while Shalwati, a teacher on unpaid leave, was sentenced to 14 months' jail.

However, the sentences were reduced and both only needed to serve one-third of their jail term.