MP Papul jailed for 4 years in Kuwait

A Kuwait court has sentenced Bangladeshi lawmaker Mohammad Shahid Islam Papul to four years' imprisonment on Thursday.

The criminal court headed by Counselor Abdullah Al-Othman handed down the verdict on a human trafficking case. It also fined the Bangladeshi lawmaker 1.9 million dinars.

Ataul Gani, general secretary of the Awami League's Kuwait chapter, confirmed the matter to media.

However, Salina Islam, wife of the MP and also a reserved seat lawmaker, said she was still unware about the verdict.

Kazi Papul, an independent lawmaker from the Lakshmipur-2 constituency, was arrested in Kuwait on 6 June.

Based on the complaints from at least five Bangladeshi nationals who claimed to have been trafficked, the Kuwaiti prosecutors charged Papul with human trafficking, money laundering and torture on expatriates.

During the interrogation by the Kuwait Criminal Investigation Department, Kazi Papul confessed to bribing Kuwait officials, and his statement has been published by different media outlets.

The Kuwait authorities had earlier frozen his bank accounts.

The Anti-Corruption Commission and the Criminal Investigation Department in Bangladesh have also opened several probes against the lawmaker.

Two Kuwaiti lawmakers – Saadoun Hammad and Salah Khorshid – are also facing trial for "taking bribes" from MP Papul.

Major General Mazen Sheikh Mazem Al Jarrah, assistant under-secretary of the interior ministry in Kuwait, is also among the accused.