Lawyers and former ministers warn of 'profound concerns' over Labour MP's trial

A radical of salient British lawyers and erstwhile furniture ministers person raised "profound concerns" astir the proceedings of Labour MP Tulip Siddiq implicit corruption allegations successful Bangladesh.

The informing comes successful an unfastened missive signed by Cherie Blair - the barrister and woman of ex-prime curate Sir Tony Blair - and 2 erstwhile Tory furniture ministers: Sir Robert Buckland, who served arsenic justness caput and Dominic Grieve, an ex-attorney general.

They wrote that the transgression proceedings against Ms Siddiq were "artificial and a contrived and unfair mode of pursuing a prosecution".

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Ms Siddiq resigned arsenic metropolis minister earlier this twelvemonth pursuing accusations she illegally received a crippled of onshore successful a caller high-end improvement connected the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital, from her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted arsenic premier curate past year.

Bangladesh's anti-corruption committee (ACC) has claimed the Labour MP received a 7,200sq ft crippled successful the diplomatic portion done "abuse of powerfulness and influence".

An probe by the premier minister's morals advisor did not find "evidence of improprieties" but said it was "regrettable" that Ms Siddiq had not been much alert to the "potential reputational risks" of the ties to her aunt.

Her proceedings began successful August, and media reports successful Bangladesh suggest a verdict could beryllium handed down successful Dhaka wrong days.

The erstwhile curate has not attended the proceedings and has maintained that the allegations against her are vexatious and portion of a smear campaign.

Earlier this month, Hasina was sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi tribunal aft she was recovered blameworthy of crimes against humanity.

In the letter, which was hand-delivered to the Bangladeshi High Commission connected Monday evening, the lawyers wrote that Ms Siddiq "does not person a due accidental of defending herself".

"She is being tried successful her lack without justification and… the proceedings autumn acold abbreviated of standards of fairness recognised internationally," they said.

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The missive was besides signed by the high-profile lawyers Philippe Sands and Geoffrey Robertson.

They person called for the Bangladeshi authorities to enactment each the allegations to Ms Siddiq's lawyers "so that she has a just accidental to code them".

The Bangladeshi High Commission has been approached for comment.