Sweden trial: Judge to rule on March 28

Last Friday, Sweden's Chief Judge Mattias Moller has decided that Shalwati Nor Shal and Azizul Raheem Awaluddin will remain in detention until March 28 for the verdict to be given out. However, some restrictions have been lifted by the chief judge.

The Malaysian couple, in detention since last December in Sweden for hitting their four children, will now be allowed visitations and communication with family members and friends, at the remand center's disposition.

During the trial, prosecutor, Anna Arnell was adamant, assailing Shalwati and Azizul’s credibility in parenting and the inconsistency of Azizul’s testimony.

Arnell also recommended the court for heavier sentences to be meted on the couple which is, approximately two-and-a half-years for Shalwati and two years of imprisonment for Azizul. The prosecutor also urged for the couple to be expelled from Sweden.

The 11th and final day of the trial in the Solna District court also saw closing arguments by defence lawyers and prosecutor.

Defense lawyers, Kristofer Stahre and Jonas Tamm submitted their closing arguments by stressing on the reasonable doubts raised throughout the hearing. These doubts include inconsistency of the children’s’ statements, the indistinct time frame of the charges, the leading questions by the authorities and also a lack of substantial supportive evidence.

According to a family member who attended the hearing, both Shalwati and Azizul seemed calm throughout the hearing and was happy that they could now see their family and friends after a long time.

The couple have yet to meet their children since December 18, when they were detained for violation of integrity of their children.

Both Azizul and Shalwati will face up to six years imprisonment and fine, should they be found guilty.

Azizul, an officer with Tourism Malaysia and his wife, Shalwati Nor Shal, a teacher on unpaid leave have been detained for allegedly abusing their four children in their home in Spanga, Sweden.

Their children Aisyah, 14, Ammar 12, Adam 11 and Arif 7, who are now under the care of their aunt in Kelantan were brought home from Sweden by Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin, last month.