The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Kuwait has seized cheque books and found evidence of huge money transactions in the bank account of Lakshmipur- 2 constituency MP (independent) Kazi Shahid Islam alias Papul during a search.
The Bangladesh MP was arrested on 6 June, but the Kuwait authorities have not informed Bangladesh officially as yet.
The Kuwait police earlier opened human trafficking and money laundering probe against Shahid following his arrest.
Kuwait diplomatic and business sources on Friday told Prothom Alo that Kuwait CID also arrested Murtaza Mamun, a close associate of the MP, and then came to know about the money transaction in his account.
In a report, Kuwait’s Arab Times said 11 Bangladeshis testified against him and revealed the name of Shahid’s close aide. Later, the court issued an order to arrest him.
Following the arrest of Murtaza Manun on Wednesday, the Kuwait detectives unearthed evidence of huge money transactions in the MP’s account.
On information given by Murtaza, Kuwait police, with the Bangladesh MP, conducted a search at his parking lot in Mushriq area of Kuwait. Police sized cheque books of several banks from his cars.
The detectives found suspicious money transactions in Kuwait, Bangladesh and Canada.
As Shahid was produced before court on 7 June, the court remanded him for human trafficking and money laundering. As many as 11 witnesses testified against him. The witnesses accused him of human trafficking and charging extra fees for visa renewable.
According to local sources, Shahid went to Kuwait in 1989 for a job of supervisor at an institution. He was almost penniless at that time. However, he had to return home after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
After the situation in Kuwait turned normal, Shahid went there again with the assistance of his brother Kazi Monzurul Alam, general secretary of Kuwait BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party).
Asked about the update of the MP, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday evening said, “We don’t have any update. We’re seeing many things in the media. Nothing has been said about him officially.”
“Our ambassador to Kuwait has said a letter was issued to the Kuwait government seeking information about him. Since there is a lockdown in Kuwait, he could not know anything yet,” the foreign minister added.
Sources in Kuwait confirmed that Murtaza Manum was arrested and he is a senior employee at Kazi Shahid’s firm Marafi Kuwaitia. He is a Canadian citizen.
The local sources also said Murtaza was appointed to take care of Shahid’s banking issues.
Asked about the matter Bangladesh ambassador SM Abul Kalam yesterday (13 June) told Prothom Alo over phone that Kazi Shahid was taken to police custody for interrogation.
Several attempts failed to secure his bail, he added.