Political reporter
PA mediaLabor MP Tulip Siddiqu is all set to prosecute corruption charges in Bangladesh later this month.
The former minister is accused of illegally obtaining land in Bangladesh, as his aunt, as part of a comprehensive investigation of Sheikh Hasina’s rule, who was appointed as Prime Minister last year.
The country’s anti-corruption commission confirmed that its case could be heard on August 11 with more than 20 other persons, including Hasina and other family members and will be held in his absence if it does not join it.
Siddiq’s lawyers have denied the allegations, described as “politically motivated”.
Hampstead and Highgate MP Sir resigned as Treasury Minister in Sir Kir Stmper’s government in JanuaryContinuing in his role would be a “distraction”, although he insisted that he had done nothing wrong.
The three cases heard on August 11 were accused of Siddiq that he was to protect a plot of land in Purbachal, Dhaka for his mother, brother and sister to influence his aunt’s administration.
Despite several summons, Siddiq has so far failed to appear before the court.
Bangladeshi officials issued a arrest warrant for him earlier this year.
In a statement, Siddiq’s lawyers said: “Now for almost a year, Bangladesh officials have been making false allegations against Tulip Siddiq. Ms. Siddiq has not been ordered any official communication from the court and has never been a conspiracy of land in Parbachal.
“This long-time politically motivated smear campaign involves frequent briefing for media, refusing to respond to formal legal correspondence, and failure to seek any meeting with Ms. Siddiq during a recent visit to the United Kingdom during a recent visit. For the United Kingdom.
“In the light of these facts, now is the time for the Chief Advisor and ACC to end this baseless and defamation effort to damage Ms. Siddiqu’s reputation and disrupt her work in public service.”
Last month, Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus refused to meet Siddiqu to discuss the allegations against him, despite his requests, saying that it was a court case.
The Commission is also investigating a separate case against Siddiqu and his family on the £ 3.9BN embezzlement of a Russian-funded nuclear power plant deal with Bangladesh in 2013.
Siddiq has denied any participation in the deal.
The investigation is based on a series of allegations made by Hasina’s political rival Bobby Hazj.
Bangladeshi officials estimate that around $ 234BN (£ 174BN) was distanced away from Bangladesh through corrupt means, while Hasina was in power.
Siddiq left his ministerial position earlier this year after investigating the allegations by the Prime Minister’s Standard Advisor Sir Lorie Magnus earlier this year.
In his report, Sir Laurie said that he had “not identified evidence of inconsistencies”.
But he said it was “regrettable” that Siddiq was not more alert for “potentially iconic risks” of his relationship with his aunt.
