Labour MP Tulip Siddiq soon to be hauled into court in Bangladesh for over 'illegal land deal'
Former Labour anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq is to face trial in Bangladesh this month over allegations that she illegally received land from her aunt, the nation's ex-leader.
The MP for Hampstead and Highgate is accused of having obtained plots from Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as prime minister last year, through 'abuse of power and influence'.
Bangladesh's new government has been investigating claims that her family embezzled up to £3.9billion from infrastructure spending.
The nation's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accuses Ms Siddiq of obtaining a 7,200 sq ft plot of land in the Purbachal diplomatic zone of the capital, Dhaka.
Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam claimed she 'influenced her aunt to get land properties for family members'.
On Thursday, two Bangladeshi courts indicted her and 26 others, including her aunt – who fled to India after being deposed – family members and officials.
Mr Salam said that if Ms Siddiq was found guilty, Bangladesh authorities were likely to submit an Interpol Red Notice for her arrest, which would prove embarrassing for Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms Siddiq insists she is the victim of an orchestrated campaign against her, and accused interim leader Muhammad Yunus of 'interfering with UK politics'.
Former Labour anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq is to face trial in Bangladesh this month over allegations that she illegally received land from her aunt, the nation's ex-leader
Tulip Siddiq pictured with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina (right), former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
If Ms Siddiq was found guilty, Bangladesh authorities were likely to submit an Interpol Red Notice for her arrest which would prove embarrassing for Sir Keir Starmer, prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam has claimed
Her spokesman did not respond to questions about whether she would travel to Bangladesh to stand trial on August 11.
Ms Siddiq, whom the ACC also accuses of money laundering and benefiting from a nuclear power deal with Russia, quit as a minister in January after an official investigation found her family's links with the ousted Bangladeshi regime exposed the Government to 'reputational risks'.
She had referred herself to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards after it emerged that she had lived in London homes linked to her aunt.
Her lawyer, Paul Thwaite, said: 'Ms Siddiq has not received any official communication from the court and has never owned any plot of land in Purbachal.'
