The Cabinet Office's ethics and propriety team has questioned Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq after the country's anti-corruption body accused her and her family of embezzling billions of dollars for a nuclear power facility.

The Labour MP allegedly told a government official that she was the victim of a "political hit job," despite claims that she assisted in negotiating an agreement with Russia to construct the energy plant.

Siddiq, who oversees the fight against corruption in Britain's markets, spoke with the ethics team last week, according to Whitehall officials. However, they clarified that the conversation was a fact-checking procedure following the accusations rather than a formal interview.

They stated that the prime minister's ethics adviser, who has the authority to conduct an independent investigation, had chosen not to do so and that it did not imply that the City minister was the subject of one. If fresh evidence surfaced, this might be different.

According to the Sunday Times, Siddiq's explanation of her role in the £10 billion Rooppur power plant project, which was given in her office on Thursday, was "accepted at face value" by officials.

The Treasury minister is the niece of Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh who ruled the country for 15 years before being toppled in a revolution in August.

Siddiq is alleged to have been involved in brokering the 2013 deal with Russia and was photographed with Vladimir Putin and her aunt at a signing ceremony. The Treasury minister has previously said she only posed for the Russian president after he asked her aunt: “Is your family here? I’d like a picture.”

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “As previously stated, the minister has denied any involvement.”

Sources close to Siddiq have said allegations that she coordinated meetings between Bangladeshi and Russian officials are “trumped-up charges” and “completely politically motivated”.

The Sunday Times reported that Siddiq had explained she visited Moscow more than a decade ago to see her aunt because it was easier to fly to Russia than Bangladesh.

The inquiry into the Labour minister was opened as part of a wider investigation by Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission, which is looking into crimes and corruption that took place under Hasina’s rule.

The submission to the commission alleged that Siddiq was “instrumental in managing the affairs and coordinating meetings with Russian government officials” to orchestrate the deal and that family members received a 30% cut.

It is understood that Bangladeshi authorities have not yet contacted Siddiq as part of the investigation, which was based on allegations raised by Bobby Hajjaj, who was in opposition under Hasina’s rule.

Hasina’s regime was accused of authoritarianism, human rights abuses and rampant corruption, and she and her ministers are facing an investigation for mass murder and crimes against humanity. She is living in exile in India and has denied the allegations.

Source: Guardian