UK minister caught up in Bangladesh anti-corruption probe
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Labour's anti-corruption minister has been named in court documents detailing claims her family embezzled billions of pounds from a nuclear power project in Bangladesh. Economic secretary Tulip Siddiq - who holds responsibility for financial crime and illicit finance - is alleged to have helped co-ordinate meetings with the Russian government regarding the Rooppur nuclear power plant project.
In a court writ seen by Sky News, submitted to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Ms Siddiq is named alongside her aunt, the former prime minister of Bangladesh Shaikh Hasina. The documents cite an online news report from August and suggest Ms Siddiq received embezzled funds that came from the artificial inflation of construction costs of the power plant - which was mainly funded by the Russian government.
It's alleged that $5bn (£3.9bn) was siphoned off from the project's budget "in collusion with Russian officials". 'Showboating' expecting as PM faces super committee - politics latest. Ms Siddiq has been approached for a response. A deadly thread runs through Sara Sharif case - and the government's knee-jerk response misses it.
Lord Blunkett says government 'doesn't owe people if they can't be bothered to work'. Costing £40bn a year until 2030, Labour has decided its colossal net zero plan is worth the risk. The Labour Party and the government declined to comment. It's understood that the minister has not been approached by Bangladeshi authorities in relation to the allegations.
