The family of a Malaysian couple detained in Sweden have given up hope with meeting the couple due to strict regulations imposed by the Swedish government.

“We have already given up hope in meeting with them. My request to meet up with Azizul and Shalwati when I had travelled to the country on December 31 had been rejected due to their strict laws. At that time, the case was still under investigation,” said Shalwati’s brother Badrul Hisham Makhzan.

However he added, with the help of various parties including Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak, the Swedish government had agreed in releasing the couple’s four children to be brought back to Malaysia.

Badrul said the children will temporarily be put under the care of his younger sister, Sharlena who is also a teacher.

The family also plan to send the children to Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Kala and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Kala, Melor which are situated close to Sharlena’s home.

The matter will soon be discussed with the Kelantan state education department.

Badrul said, the children may initially face difficulties initially due to the language factor as the children had attended International schools previously.

He also hoped the children’s parents would be released soon and return to Malaysia.

Shalwati and her husband, Tourism Malaysia officer in Stockholm, Azizul Raheem Awaluddin have been remanded until Feb 10 to facilitate investigations after they were accused of abusing their children. Sweden made illegal all forms of physical punishment for children in 1979.