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Sheikh Hasina has denied the charges, accusing the army-backed emergency government of trying to destroy her political career. -- PHOTO: AFP
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DHAKA - A BANGLADESHI businessman told a graft
hearing against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that he gave her cousin hundreds of thousands of dollars to win approval for a proposed power plant, trial lawyers said on Wednesday.
Azam J. Chowdhury told the court that he paid about 30 million takas (S$630,835) to Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim so that his Eastcoast Trading Ltd company would be allowed to build the power station near the capital, Dhaka, said defense lawyer Kamrul Islam.
Chowdhury told the makeshift court set up inside the National Parliament complex that he paid the bribe to Selim through several checks, which were hand delivered to his private home, prosecutor Sharfuddin Ahmed Mukul said.
Selim had apparently indicated that part of the kickback would go to Hasina, Mr Mukul quoted Chowdhury as saying.
Chowdhury, who spoke for about an hour, will be cross-examined next week.
Last year, Chowdhury filed an extortion case against Selim, who was a cabinet minister during Hasina's 1996-2001 tenure. Hasina and her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, were later implicated in the case based on Selim's confession, according to court papers.
Selim, however, in an earlier statement told the court that the confession was extracted under duress. The court rejected his plea for retraction.
Hasina has denied the charges and called the case against her politically motivated. Rehana, who lives in London, has not answered the charges and is being tried in absentia as a fugitive.
On Jan 13, Judge Azizul Haque rejected a defense appeal to throw out the case, saying there was enough proof to proceed with the trial.
State prosecutors said the court had accepted bank documents that allegedly prove Hasina, her sister and their cousin received money from Chowdhury in return for allowing the power project to go ahead.
If found guilty, the defendants each face up to 14 years in prison, Mr Mukul said.
Bangladesh's military-backed interim government has launched a crackdown on corruption since taking over in January last year, under a state of emergency.
Hasina, and her main rival, Khaleda Zia - also a former prime minister - have both been arrested and accused of corruption and abuse of power. Both are being held in special jails inside the Parliament complex. -- AP
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