A Bangladeshi lawmaker has been arrested in Kuwait for his alleged involvement in human trafficking and money laundering.
MP Mohammad Shahid was arrested by the residence investigation department in the Musharraf area on Saturday, Gulf News reported.
He has been charged with human trafficking, money laundering, and exploiting his compatriot workers after hearing testimonies of five Bangladeshis, who confirmed that they had paid amounts of up to 3,000 dinars in exchange for coming to Kuwait, and that they were also paying annual sums for renewing their residency visas.
Bangladeshi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abu Al Kalam Abdul Moamen, said the Ambassador of Bangladesh in Kuwait informed him of the arrest of the MP in a case brought up because of his business there.
“We do not know anything officially,” said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Shahriar Alam.
“Our embassy is checking with the local authorities. Even a convict is entitled to consular support from the homeland under the law,” he said.
Kuwaiti media have also accused him of trading visas and siphoning off money to the US for laundering.