Mother freed from Swedish prison reunited with children in emotional return – Bernama
Shalwati Norshal, who was freed from the Hinseberg Prison in Frovi, Sweden yesterday, after serving a 14-month jail sentence for hitting her children, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 1.41pm today.
Shalwati, 46, attired in a black suit outfit with a white headscarf, flew in on Emirates Flight EK408 which transited in Dubai and was accompanied by her sister Noor Azila Makhzan, 52.
She was greeted on arrival by her husband Azizul Raheem Awalludin, 38, and close family members at the KLIA Tourism Office.
On March 29, Azizul Raheem, a Tourism Malaysia officer in Stockholm and his wife were sentenced by a Swedish court to imprisonment for hitting their four children over a period of about three years ending last December. Corporal punishment is a crime in Sweden.
Azizul Raheem, was released on July 9 after a three-month jail sentence in Sweden.
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 terms.
Shalwati said she was looking forward to do her Aidiladha congregational prayers after not having been able to do so during the Aidilfitri celebration.
The Aidiladha celebration is this Sunday while Aidilfitri this year was celebrated in July.
"Aidiladha this time will be more meaningful after I was not able to celebrate Aidilfitri with my family. I will use the opportunity to make up for lost time with my family," Shalwati told reporters.
She also said she missed Malaysia so much that she felt like wanting to kneel down and kiss the ground to celebrate her freedom.
Asked what were her plans after this, she said she was excited about returning to teaching at Sekolah Seri Puteri in Cyberjaya soon.
"As for my children, I will wait for the school term to be over before transferring them to schools around Kuala Lumpur.
On her prison experience, she said it brought her closer to Allah and described it as "a holiday to strengthen her spirituality".
Meanwhile, Azizul Raheem said her coming home was very timely as Muslims would be celebrating Aidiladha.
"Thank God, Shalwati has come home, she is in the flesh before our eyes," he said.
The couple arrived in Kota Baru at 7.40pm today.
Their children, Aishah, 14, Ammar, 13, Adam, 12, and Ariff, eight, were waiting for them at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kelantan,, together with relatives and friends.
It was an emotional homecoming for Shalwatil
When approached by reporters, Shalwati said she did not blame her children for their predicament.
"I consider it a blessing in disquise and I don't blame my children. I wish to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Malaysian government for all the help extended to us," she said.
Aishah, meanwhile, said it was the happiest moment in her life.
"I am so glad mummy is home," she said, adding that the family was looking forward to celebrating Aidiladha together.
The four children held a card with the words "Welcome Home Mummy" and presented their mother a bouquet of flowers as soon as she stepped into the arrival hall.
Shalwati on seeing her children rushed over to hug them and the emotionally charged atmosphere was felt by all the people around.
– Bernama, October 1, 2014.
