Labour MP hits out at 'farce' anti-corruption trial in Bangladesh

Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has called her anti-corruption proceedings a "farce" which is "driven by a wide governmental agenda" arsenic proceedings began connected Wednesday successful Bangladesh.

In a connection seen by Sky News, Ms Siddiq has said the lawsuit was "built connected fabricated accusations".

Ms Siddiq was formerly the UK government's anti-corruption curate but stood down implicit accusations she illegally received a crippled of onshore successful a caller high-end improvement connected the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital.

This came aft her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted arsenic premier curate past twelvemonth and replaced by the existent government.

Hundreds of protesters were killed during the uprising and Ms Hasina present faces charges including crimes against humanity.

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Ms Siddiq antecedently denied each the allegations against her done lawyers, saying the prosecution is politically motivated.

Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) claims the Labour MP received a 7,200-square-foot crippled successful a diplomatic portion done "abuse of powerfulness and influence".

The proceedings successful Dhaka began successful the aboriginal hours of UK time, with Ms Siddiq connected proceedings alongside her parent and siblings. The household are being tried successful absentia arsenic they person not returned to Bangladesh for the proceedings.

The tribunal opened with ACC prosecutors laying retired the lawsuit against Ms Siddiq.

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In her statement, Ms Siddiq said: "The alleged proceedings present nether mode successful Dhaka is thing much than a farce, built connected fabricated accusations and driven by a wide governmental vendetta.

"Over the past year, the allegations against maine person repeatedly shifted, yet I person ne'er been contacted by the Bangladeshi authorities once. I person ne'er received a tribunal summons, nary authoritative communication, and nary evidence.

"If this were a genuine ineligible process, the authorities would person engaged with maine oregon my ineligible team, responded to our ceremonial correspondence, and presented the grounds they assertion to hold.

"Instead, they person peddled mendacious and vexatious allegations that person been briefed to the media but ne'er formally enactment to maine by investigators.

"Even my connection to conscionable Bangladesh's main advisor Muhammad Yunus during his caller sojourn to London was refused. Such behaviour is wholly incompatible with the principles of a just proceedings that we uphold successful the UK.

"I person been wide from the outset that I person done thing incorrect and volition respond to immoderate credible grounds that is presented to me. Continuing to smear my sanction to people governmental points is some baseless and damaging."

Sky News has contacted the Bangladesh authorities for a response.

A abstracted anti-corruption allegation into Ms Siddiq's household has besides been launched, with allegations they were progressive successful brokering a 2013 woody with Russia for a atomic powerfulness works successful Bangladesh, successful which ample sums of wealth were said to person been embezzled.

Ms Siddiq's aunt, Ms Hasina, was ousted past twelvemonth pursuing pupil protests, having been successful powerfulness for much than a decade. She has since fled to India.

Hundreds of protesters were killed during the uprising and Ms Hasina present faces charges including crimes against humanity.

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Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took implicit arsenic interim person and vowed to prosecute Ms Hasina.

Allegations person besides been made astir Ms Siddiq and a location she rents successful North London, which is owned by a businessman reportedly linked to Ms Hasina's Awami League Party.