Tulip Siddiq, a former Labour minister, has defended herself against corruption allegations from Bangladesh, labeling them as false and baseless. In a letter to the Anti Corruption Commission, her lawyers argue that she has not been formally questioned despite media reports. Siddiq resigned from her Treasury position to avoid distraction while contesting claims linked to her familial connections with the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh. Sir Laurie Magnus’s investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing, but raised concerns regarding perceived reputational risks.

Tulip Siddiq, a former Labour minister and MP for Hampstead and Highgate, has rebuked the Bangladeshi authorities for what she describes as a “targeted and baseless” campaign against her. Her legal representatives have addressed a letter to Bangladesh’s Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), asserting that the corruption allegations leveled against her are “false and vexatious,” and notably, she has yet to be formally questioned by investigators, despite media disclosures regarding these claims.

In January, Siddiq resigned her position as economic secretary to the Treasury, responsible for addressing corruption within the UK’s financial markets. She emphasized that her resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing, but rather as an attempt to avoid being a distraction for the government. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a close associate, acknowledged her resignation while indicating that the “door remains open” for her return to government roles.

Siddiq proactively referred herself to the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, following the emergence of the allegations. In his report, Sir Laurie indicated that he did not find evidence of any improprieties associated with Siddiq’s actions, although he expressed concern over Siddiq’s unawareness of the “potential reputational risks” stemming from her familial ties to Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh.

The ACC’s investigation pertains to accusations that Sheikh Hasina and her family have embezzled approximately £3.9 billion from Bangladesh’s infrastructure spending, with the claims originally propounded by political adversary Bobby Hajjaj. Court documents reviewed by the BBC suggest Hajjaj accused Siddiq of facilitating an inflated deal with Russia in 2013 concerning a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, an assertion she firmly denies.

Siddiq’s lawyers reaffirm her non-involvement in the nuclear plant negotiations, pointing out that familial attendance at state functions is commonplace. They criticize claims that a £700,000 flat in London, gifted to her in 2004, represents gains from embezzlement, labeling such assertions “absurd” given the timeline of events. Sir Laurie’s investigation highlighted an “unfortunate misunderstanding” regarding the gift of the flat, which Siddiq believed was purchased by her parents.

In their communication to the ACC, Siddiq’s legal team identified Abdul Motalif, a close family friend, as the donor of the King’s Cross flat. They also prepared a thorough counter to the accusations made by the ACC regarding her alleged involvement in land appropriation in Dhaka, condemning ACC’s media briefings as an “unacceptable attempt to interfere with UK politics.” Siddiq’s representatives demanded a halt to the perpetuation of unfounded allegations and insisted on a formal inquiry to be conducted properly, concluding that if no legitimate questions are posed by 25 March 2025, they would assume that no credible inquiries exist.

The allegations against Tulip Siddiq have been characterized by her legal team as unfounded and part of a targeted harassment campaign by Bangladeshi authorities. Despite the gravity of the accusations pertaining to corruption connected to her relatives, Siddiq remains firm in her defense, claiming no involvement in any alleged improprieties. The matter now rests with the ACC to conduct a transparent investigation and respond to Siddiq’s demands for clarity.

Original Source: www.bbc.com

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