The National Crime Agency has taken the first step in Britain in a corruption case embroiling ex-City minister Tulip Siddiq, by freezing any future sale of her mother’s home.
The agency – hailed as Britain’s FBI – last night confirmed obtaining an asset-freezing order on the luxury property in Golders Green, North London, which has been the Siddiq clan’s main home for 14 years.
Hampstead Labour MP Ms Siddiq’s mother Rehana, 69, has been living there since it was bought in 2011 for £1.2 million.
The home, registered in the Isle of Man tax haven, was bought by millionaire Ahmed Shayan Rahman, 42.
He was a chairman of the British Asian Trust, a charity founded by King Charles. Last night the trust said he has stood down over the NCA probe.
Mr Rahman’s father Salman, 74, was a minister for prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, the aunt of Ms Siddiq, 42, who was ousted from power last year after weeks of violent protests.
The freezing order is part of the NCA’s investigation into suspected corruption and money-laundering.
Bangladesh is probing claims Ms Siddiq and family members siphoned nearly £4 billion from a nuclear plant deal with a Russian company. Ms Siddiq denies any wrongdoing.
She quit as City minister in January after a standards investigation into properties she owned or lived in which were given to her family by her aunt’s allies in Bangladesh.
Ms Siddiq did not comment and Mr Rahman could not be reached last night.