Man charged over alleged $90,000 bribe to Bangladesh officials to remove his name from wife’s death investigation

A 51-year-old Queensland man has been charged over an alleged $90,000 bribery plot aimed at influencing an investigation into the suspicious death of an Australian-Bangladeshi woman.

As per 7News, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) alleges Awlad Hossain transferred about $90,000 to people in Bangladesh between September 2024 and September 2026, intending for the money to be used to bribe public officials.

According to the AFP, the alleged payments were intended to influence the investigation, including having Hossain’s name removed from police records.

The investigation began in September 2024 after Queensland Police referred an overseas missing-person report involving the woman.

It is reported that Bangladesh Police subsequently located a body, with forensic testing confirming her identity. Authorities later indicated her death was suspicious.

The AFP said the alleged attempts to influence the investigation were unsuccessful and that cooperation with Bangladesh Police has continued.

Hossain was arrested on 21 September at a property in Goodna, with AFP officers also executing search warrants at properties in Goodna and Redbank Plains and seizing electronic devices.

He has been charged with one count of bribing a foreign public official under section 70.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth), an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The AFP said the case is the first time it has brought an allegation of foreign bribery of a public official for personal advantage before an Australian court.

Hossain was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 22 September, with the matter adjourned until Wednesday.

The AFP investigation into the woman’s suspicious death and the separate Bangladesh Police investigation remain ongoing.

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