MP Shahidul Islam Papul, detained in Kuwait, has “admitted” to bribing two Kuwaiti MPs for cooperation in money laundering and human trafficking. He bribed the country’s MPs – Saadoun Hammad Al-Otaibi and Salah Abdulredha Khurshid – for a total of 5.60 lakh Kuwaiti dinars, i.e., Tk 15,70,68,000.
The information was leaked to the Kuwaiti media on Monday, citing the public prosecutor.
According to the English daily Arab Times, the public prosecutor told the information in a petition to the National Assembly to lift the impunity provision of two MPs. Saadoun Hammad, who is involved in financial transactions and commercial activities, was allegedly given 2 lakh Kuwaiti dinars by Papul.
Government prosecutors say 50,000 dinars in cash were delivered to Saadoun Hammad’s South Sura residence through a Syrian mediator. The remaining 1.5 lakh Kuwaiti dinars are given by check.
According to the Arabic daily Alqabas, MP Salah Abdulredha Khurshid was given 370,000 Kuwaiti dinars. The money was delivered to his residents through a few installments. The money was given to help Bangladesh to “bring in workers illegally,” the public prosecutor said.
Papul, an MP from Lakshmipur-2 constituency, was arrested on June 6 night from the Mushrif area in Kuwait. Asa one of the owners of the Marafie Kuwaita Company, he was allowed to live there.
The Kuwaiti prosecution has accused Papul of human trafficking, money laundering and exploitation to the employees of his business establishment, based on the allegations of five Bangladeshis, the victims of trafficking. He is now in Kuwait Central Jail after being interrogated on a 17-days remand.
The Kuwaiti media has been reporting on various issues including bribery in the ongoing investigation into money laundering and human trafficking. Besides, the country’s newspapers are giving the news of the involvement of army officers and government bureaucrats to the prosecution, as well as the involvement of MPs.
Alqabas reported on Monday that Kuwait’s National Assembly had set a date for Tuesday to discuss the scandal involving Papul and his associates. ❑
