Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus and 13 others were indicted in Dhaka Wednesday for allegedly embezzling over $2 million from his telecom company.
The indictment, brought by Bangladesh’s anti-corruption agency, charges Yunus with misusing funds from the worker’s welfare fund at Grameen Telecom, one of several companies he has founded, and engaging in money laundering.
Grameen Telecom owns a 34% stake in Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s largest mobile phone network.
Yunus, 83, denies any wrongdoing and emphasized his commitment to serving people and accused the government of harassment. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering microcredit to help impoverished people.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused Yunus of “sucking blood from the poor.”
Yunus’ lawyer, Abdullah Al Manum, described the indictment as the most serious challenge Yunus has faced.
Earlier this year, Yunus was sentenced to six months in prison for labor law violations but was released on bail pending further proceedings.
More than 170 global leaders and Nobel laureates last year urged Hasina to halt legal action against Yunus, alleging he is being targeted due to his strained relationship with her.
The government denied these allegations.
Yunus also faces over 100 additional charges related to labor law violations and alleged graft.
If convicted, he could potentially face life in prison. His trial is scheduled to start July 15.
This information was sourced from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
