Bangladesh has launched a probe into the alleged $5 billion embezzlement linked to a Russian-backed nuclear energy plant by ousted chief Sheikh Hasina and her household, the anti-corruption fee mentioned Monday.
Together with Hasina, the now-former prime minster who fled to India after being toppled by a revolution in August, these topic to the inquiry embrace her son, Sajeeb Wazed Pleasure, and niece, Tulip Siddiq, a British lawmaker and authorities minister.
The allegations have been raised by a writ in search of an investigation filed within the excessive courtroom by Hasina’s political opponent, Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the Nationalist Democratic Motion social gathering.
“We search justice by way of our courtroom”, Hajjaj informed AFP on Monday.
Key allegations are linked to the funding of the $12.65 billion Rooppur nuclear plant, the South Asian nation’s first, which is bankrolled by Moscow with a 90 % mortgage.
An announcement Monday from the fee mentioned it had launched an inquiry into allegations that Hasina and relations had “embezzled $5 billion” from the Rooppur plant by way of “numerous offshore financial institution accounts in Malaysia”.
It mentioned its investigations have been inspecting “questionable procurement practices associated to the overpriced development” of the plant.
“The claims of kickbacks, mismanagement, cash laundering, and potential abuse of energy increase vital considerations concerning the integrity of the venture and the usage of public funds”, the fee mentioned.
Graft allegations additionally embrace theft from a authorities constructing scheme for the homeless.
Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter on August 5 into exile in India, infuriating many Bangladeshis decided that she face trial for alleged “mass homicide”.
It was not doable to contact Hasina for remark.
Siddiq has “denied any involvement within the claims” accusing her of involvement in embezzlement, based on a press release from the British prime minister’s workplace.
Pleasure, who is known to be based mostly in the US, was additionally unavailable for remark.
