The prosecutor said the parents physically abused their children using sticks, belts and clothes hangers. The abuse happened between 2010 and 2013.

A court statement said: “The mother is convicted of gross violation of the integrity of the daughter in the family and the eldest son, as well as of assault of the two younger sons. She is sentenced to prison for one year and two months.”

“The father is also convicted of gross violation of the integrity of the eldest son and for assault of the daughter and the second oldest son. He is acquitted of any offence against the youngest son. He is sentenced to 10 months imprisonment. Both parents must also pay damages to the children for the crimes of which they have been found guilty by the court.”

“It is interesting to note how different people see hitting children. But it has not affected the trial here. At the same time I feel some kind of pride that here we take the experience of children seriously,” prosecutor Anna Arnell told news agency TT.

The case received global attention after Malaysian politicians launched a campaign to free the couple and described the Swedish authorities’ decision to place their four children in temporary foster care as “abuse”. All forms of corporal punishment have been banned in Sweden since 1979.

The parents work for the Malaysian state and hold diplomatic passports, but they do not enjoy diplomatic immunity. They were arrested on December 20th after one of their children told staff at his school that he had been smacked. The staff reported the parents to the authorities.

Swedish authorities allowed the four children – aged 7, 11, 12 and 14 – to return to Kuala Lumpur in February. Representatives of the Malaysian government brought the children home and they were received by the country’s prime minister and vice foreign minister.

Source: Radio Sweden