MP Shahid Arrest: Prosecution asks him to be kept detained
Kuwait's Public Prosecution has ordered continued detention of Bangladeshi MP Mohammad Shahid Islam, who was arrested by the country's Criminal Investigation Department last Saturday on charges of human trafficking and money laundering, pending further investigation, reports Arab Times on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul, MP of Luxmipur-2 constituency, denied what seven Bangladeshis testified in front of the Public Prosecution that each of them paid 2,500 dinars for the accused {Shahid Islam] to bring them to Kuwait to work as driver for his company.
However, when they arrived into the country they did not find any jobs instead they were asked to find a job for themselves. Migrants also said when the time for renewal of their residence came, he asked them to pay more money.
Following their confessions, the suspect was arrested from his home in Mishref and referred for interrogation.
A Bangladesh community member in Kuwait said over a dozen others including Kuwaitis and Bangladeshis who work for Marafie Kuwaitia, a cleaning company owned by Shahid Islam and a Kuwaiti, were also interrogated by the prosecution and put in to a detention centre.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Kuwait SM Abul Kalam said the embassy would not interfere in the investigations carried out by the Kuwaiti authorities against compatriot Muhammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul, reports Arab Times.
He said the embassy will not provide any support to the arrested man until his charges are determined by the Kuwaiti authorities. He also said he has not yet discussed the issue with the foreign ministry.
The ambassador also said he is unaware if the detained man is facing imprisonment. He also said Shahid Islam has not yet contacted the embassy.
Bangladesh Ambassador SM Abul Kalam told The Daily Star he has received no response from the Kuwait foreign ministry as of yesterday though he sought to the ministry to learn why the MP was detained.
"When we get to know the details, we can communicate the foreign ministry in Dhaka and go for actions as required," he said.
In mid-February, Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission opened an enquiry into an allegation that Shahid Islam amassed Tk 1,400 crore by trafficking people to Kuwait and siphoned off the money to different countries.
During that time, Arab Times reported three major companies brought more than 20,000 Bangladeshi workers to Kuwait in exchange for an amount believed to be more than Tk 1,391.6 crore.