Hasina formally indicted for graft charges

Dhaka: Former Bangladeshi prime minister Shaikh Hasina has been formally indicted by a court on Sunday for graft over a power plant deal.

The Anti-Corruption Commission accused Hasina of accepting 30 million take ($440,000) in bribes in a power plant deal while she held office between 1996-2001.

Hasina vehemently denies the charges.

Speaking at the hearing she told the court: “This is a false charge and politically motivated. It was filed only to destroy my political career."

If found guilty, she may be imprisoned for up to seven years, which would also rule her out of contesting national polls due in December, lawyers said.

She is also facing charges by a separate court for extorting more than $400,000 from a businessman when she was in power.