SEPANG: The former Tourism director in Stockholm Azizul Raheem Awaluddin today received a rapturous welcome by his four children at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), here, today, following his release from jail in Sweden.
Clad in a faded black polo t-shirt, the 38-year-old exited the arrival hall gate accompanied by several other officials, darting straight to the Tourism Malaysia centre nearby where he was reunited with the children after serving three months prison after receiving a conviction on capital punishment.
Azizul said he was relieved and happy to be at home where he would be able to spend Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations with the children.
“I am happy and very grateful to be back.”
“This is also a gift to my mother who celebrates her birthday today,” he briefly told reporters when met here today.
Azizul, when asked, said he intended to resume working as his “duty was still a duty”.
However, he said it was unlikely that he would ever return to work in Sweden.
Azizul said he will be in Kuala Lumpur and was unsure where the family would celebrate Hari Raya.
“What is most important is that I am home,” he said
On advice to other Malaysians who worked abroad or intended to do so, Azizul said it was best to refer to the Malaysian missions abroad on local customs and laws to prevent such an incident from recurring.
He said his wife Shalwati Norshal, was due to be released on Sept 29.
His daughter Aisyah, was at a loss for words when asked about her father’s arrival.
“I do not know how to describe it but we are happy that he is home,” she said.
On March 28, the Solna District Court in Stockholm, Sweden, imposed a jail sentence of 10 months on Azizul Raheem and 14 months on Shalwati, a teacher who is on unpaid leave, for the offence.
The court ordered Shalwati and Azizul to pay 67,200 krona (RM33,900) and 36,400 krona (RM18,362) respectively in damages to their children.
However, the court reduced their jail sentences and both of them were only required to serve one-third of their respective jail times.
