Kuwait to open trial against Bangladeshi lawmaker Shahid on Thursday

A Kuwait court will open trial against Bangladeshi lawmaker Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul and eight others over the charges of human trafficking and money laundering on Thursday.

Two Kuwaiti lawmakers Saadoun Hammad and Salah Khorshid are facing trial for ‘taking bribe’ from Shahid, reports bdnews24.com.

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

The accused are charged with human trafficking, money laundering, bribing and threatening the state security, reported Arabic daily Al Qabas and Al Ra'I citing the Kuwait public prosecution.

Shahid, the Member of Parliament from Lakshmipur-2 constituency, was arrested in Kuwait on Jun 6.

The Kuwaiti prosecutors charged Shahid with human trafficking, money laundering and torture on employees of his company, based on the complaints from five Bangladeshi nationals subjected to trafficking.

The incident stirred a political outcry in Kuwait.

Worker recruiter Shahid, who runs the Marafie Kuwaitia Group as managing director and CEO, resides in Kuwait according to the Aliens Residence Law.

The Bangladesh MP confessed to bribing Kuwait officials and his statement has been published in different media outlets.

The two lawmakers named there were charged for assisting Shahid in his illegal actions and also for money laundering.

At least 13 people were accused in the case but four were later exempted during the investigation, reported Al Qabas.

Among the accused, six including MP Papul are in prison while two Kuwaiti MPs are out on bail. One accused in the case is absconding.