Malaysian pair in Sweden 'mistreated kid'

Malaysia has vowed to defend a couple detained in Sweden over allegations of mistreating one of their children, a foreign ministry statement says.

It said the government would "continue to work with the relevant Swedish authorities in ensuring that the rights of the detained couple are safeguarded".

The detained couple, Tourism Malaysia director in Stockholm Azizul Raheem Awalludin and his wife Shalwati Nurshal, were arrested in Stockholm on December 18 for allegedly hitting one of their four children for not praying.

Smacking children has been illegal in Sweden since 1979.

The couple's four children, aged 14, 12, 11 and 7, have been placed in a foster family while the case is being heard by a local Swedish court.