Siddiq denies wrongdoing as Bangladesh ‘issues warrant for her arrest’ | EUROtoday

Tulip Siddiq has denied wrongdoing after Bangladeshi authorities issued an arrest warrant for the Labour MP in reference to corruption allegations.

Reports declare Bangladeshi’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had sought an arrest warrant on Sunday over allegations Ms Siddiq illegally acquired a 7,200 sq. ft plot of land within the nation’s capital, Dhaka.

The allegation is claimed to be separate from an investigation into Ms Siddiq’s aunt, the previous Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, concerning a nuclear energy plant deal during which the previous City minister has additionally been named.

Ms Siddiq resigned from her put up within the Treasury earlier this 12 months following an investigation by the prime minister’s ethics adviser into her hyperlinks to her aunt’s regime, which was overthrown final 12 months.

In an announcement, Ms Siddiq’s attorneys stated the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate had no information of any warrant being issued, and described the claims in opposition to her as “politically motivated”.

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Ms Siddiq’s attorneys stated: “The ACC has made various allegations against Ms Siddiq through the media in the last few months. The allegations are completely false and have been dealt with in writing by Ms Siddiq’s lawyers.

“The ACC has not responded to Ms Siddiq or put any allegations to her directly or through her lawyers. Ms Siddiq knows nothing about a hearing in Dhaka relating to her and she has no knowledge of any arrest warrant that is said to have been issued.

“To be clear, there is no basis at all for any charges to be made against her, and there is absolutely no truth in any allegation that she received a plot of land in Dhaka through illegal means.

“She has never had a plot of land in Bangladesh, and she has never influenced any allocation of plots of land to her family members or anyone else.

“No evidence has been provided by the ACC to support this or any other allegation made against Ms Siddiq, and it is clear to us that the charges are politically motivated.”

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Ms Siddiq selected to resign from her position as a minister in Sir Keir Starmer’s cupboard earlier this 12 months, saying she had change into “a distraction” from the Government’s agenda.

She stepped down following reviews that she lived in properties in London linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, who’s now exiled in India.

Although it was concluded that she had not breached the Ministerial Code, Sir Keir Starmer was suggested to rethink Ms Siddiq’s obligations.

The prime minister’s adviser on ministerial requirements, Sir Laurie Magnus stated: “Given the nature of Ms Siddiq’s ministerial responsibilities, which include the promotion of the UK financial services sector and the inherent probity of its regulatory framework as a core component of the UK economy and its growth, it is regrettable that she was not more alert to the potential reputational risks – both to her and the Government – arising from her close family’s association with Bangladesh.”

A Conservative Party spokesman stated Ms Siddiq “should immediately stand down as a Labour MP” if she is the topic of an arrest warrant in Bangladesh.

The ACC has been contacted for remark.