KUALA LUMPUR: Australian actress Eliza Szonert, who was detained by police on Monday for allegedly snatching her son from her former partner at a restaurant here on Dec 10, was released yesterday.
Brickfields police chief Assistant Commissioner Sharul Othman Mansor told the News Straits Times today that the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) had ordered the release.
“She was released yesterday (Wednesday) after the investigation paper was referred to the DPP.”
Sharul Othman said since it was a family matter, no charges would be filed against Szonert.
The 42-year-old Neighbours star had gone to a police station here on Monday accompanied by her lawyer.
On Tuesday, Sharul said police had acquired a three-day remand order against the Australian actress.
The case was investigated under Section 365 and 339 of the Penal Code for abduction and wrongful restraint of a person.
According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, Szonert was detained after refusing to hand over her son or reveal his location.
The report said a spokesman for Child Recovery Australia Col Chapman had confirmed that his client was eld without charge after she declined to reveal her son’s whereabouts.
Chapman said his client had refused to give up the boy arguing it was not the business of Malaysian officials.
He also said Szonert blamed a vexatious complaint from her former partner, Ashley Crick, for her confinement.
Chapman said that Szonert had sought help from the Australian high commission to arrange her release.
“It has always been the intention of Szonert to return to Australia with her son to resolve the matter through the proper processes," he said.
It was reported the Melbourne-based actress had abducted her son from Crick at a restaurant in Mid Valley Megamall here on Dec 10, with the help of two men.
The case gathered attention several Australian media.
Daily Mail Australia reported that Szonert spent eight weeks from August to October in an exclusive rehabilitation facility in Thailand.
She had said that she was seeking treatment for depression.