The mobile phone contents of the Bangladeshi Member of Parliament Md Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul revealed a lot of facts and information and is seen as a 'treasure' for the investigation agencies as it includes the names of senior officials in the ministries of Interior and Social Affairs and members of the National Assembly of Kuwait, reports Arab Times quoting local daily Al-Seyassah.
Kazi Papul is currently in custody in Kuwait on charges of human trafficking and money laundering. He was sentenced to be detained for a period of 21 days in the central prison last week.
Meanwhile, Minister Anas Al-Saleh issued a decree suspending Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Major General Mazen Al-Jarrah, Times Kuwait reported quoting Al Rai.
During the investigations into the case of the Bangladeshi MP, it came to light that there is the possibility he accepted bribes and was involved in financial transactions.
Mazen Al-Jarrah's secretary has been charged with receiving bribes and banned from travel.
According to the security sources, the secretary has admitted to receiving bribes 'in cash' from Kazi Papul. The money was deposited in the account of a private company which he owns and then was cashed on the strength of checks issued in the name of the major general in such a manner that there was no direct relationship between Mazen Al-Jarrah and Papul.
The Kuwaiti Public Prosecution Office has confirmed the statements made by the secretary regarding the accounts and checks. The sources said the senior army official has contributed to the issuance of 23,000 entry visas for Bangladeshis.
The official is said to have used his position to bypass an earlier decision which forbid the issuance of visas to citizens of Bangladesh, during his tenure in office.
The same sources confirmed that all the senior officials working for state agencies - who appear in the pictures and videos found on MP Papul's phone, are being summoned for interrogation.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Kuwait on June 7 arrested Lakshmipur-2 MP Kazi Papul on charges of human trafficking and money laundering from his residence in the Mushrif area in Kuwait.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh on June 9 sent letters to Kazi Papul, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law asking them to submit their personal documents including national identity cards, passports, TIN certificates, and copies of income tax returns as a part of the investigation.
On June 17, The ACC imposed a travel ban on Kazi Papul and three members of his family.
Later, on June 21, several Kuwaiti news media reported that Kuwaiti authorities had imposed a freeze on the bank accounts of Kazi Papul and his company the Marafie Kuwaitia Group.
On June 24, the Attorney General of Kuwait decided to imprison Bangladeshi lawmaker Md Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul for a period of 21 days in the central prison.
According to concerning sources, Kuwaiti public prosecutor decided to continue the imprisonment of the remaining accused and to release the owner of a company on bail of 2,000 dinars.
Two Kuwaiti lawmakers have also been indicted on allegations of money laundering and aiding and abetting Kazi Papul.
