A Queensland man is accused of sending more than $90,000 to people in Bangladesh to influence an investigation into his estranged wife’s suspected murder.
Awlad Hossain, 51, has been charged with bribing a foreign public official, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. Mr Hossain has not yet appeared before court.
The ABC revealed last April that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) was investigating the suspected murder of Mr Hossain’s estranged wife, Rehana Parvin, an Australian citizen and mother of five, whose body was found in a small village in Bangladesh in September 2024.
Bangladeshi police have issued an arrest warrant for Mr Hossain over her death, but he has not been charged in relation to it, in either Bangladesh or Australia.
Mr Hossain is in custody in Brisbane and expected to apply for bail tomorrow, after his matter was adjourned this morning.
There are two ongoing investigations into Ms Parvin’s death — one by the AFP, and another by Bangladeshi police.
AFP Commander Stephen Jay said police will allege he transferred more than $90,000 in multiple payments to people he knew in Bangladesh over two years in a bid to influence the Bangladeshi probe.
He alleged some of these payments were intended for Bangladeshi police but there was “absolutely no evidence” payments had been paid to officials or affected the operation.
“We have not seen any change in the level of the support provided to us by Bangladeshi police,” he said.
“We remain really comfortable with the excellent cooperation we’ve had from Bangladesh authorities.”
Commander Jay said the charges were “materially relevant” to the investigation into Ms Parvin’s death, which he said continues “at speed.”
The evidence of alleged bribes was uncovered as part of that existing investigation.
“At the center of this matter is the tragic death of a woman and our thoughts remain with her family and friends as they continue to seek answers,” Commander Jay said.
AFP officers arrested Mr Hossain on Tuesday and searched homes in Goodna and Redbank Plains, where they seized an electronic device.
Investigators also searched financial institutions in Sydney and Brisbane, seizing international funds transfer and bank records.
Mr Hossain’s lawyer, Torik Dib, said his client denied the allegations against him and intends to contest the charge.
“We will be applying for bail on his behalf while the matter is on foot,” Mr Dib told the ABC.
“There are evidentiary deficiencies in the prosecution case which will be matters to be properly tested and determined before the Court.”
This is the first time the AFP has put an allegation of foreign bribery of a public official for personal advantage before the court.
“If the AFP identifies evidence of attempts to bribe foreign government officials for personal gain you’ll be investigated, you could be prosecuted and if convicted face a significant amount of time in incarceration,” Commander Jay said.
Asked if the AFP could charge someone with murder under strengthened Commonwealth powers, Commander Jay said the charge would be harming an Australian overseas.
“The Bangladesh investigation is ongoing,” he said.
“They have assisted us from the very beginning, which helped advance the investigation of the case,” the spokesperson said.
