Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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January 13, 2008

Bangladesh Indicts Former Prime Minister on Corruption Charges
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1AE73EB:A6F02AD83191E1601BF84404ED4B70F921A4E82C900CD027& Sheikh Hasina is
accused of taking $437 million from a businessman in 2000 while she
was in power, a charge she denies





Police detain former Bangladeshi PM and Awami League President Sheikh
Hasina in Dhaka, Bangladesh (File Photo)A Bangladesh court has
formally charged former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with extortion,
after weeks of reviewing the prosecution's evidence.

Court officials said Sunday that her trial will begin on January 17
and will end within two months.

Authorities said the court rejected a defense plea to drop the charges
and decided there was sufficient evidence to indict her for extortion.

The former prime minister is accused of taking $437 million from a
businessman in 2000 while she was in power. Ms. Hasina has denied the
charges.

Bangladesh's military-backed government has detained at least 150
high-profile figures in a crackdown on political corruption.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.




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