Australian man charged over $90,000 bribe to Bangladeshi officials in woman’s death cover-up
A 51-year-old man from Redbank Plains in Queensland was scheduled to appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday after being charged with allegedly bribing Bangladeshi public officials for personal gain.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) alleges the man transferred about A$90,000 to people in Bangladesh with the intention that they use the money to influence an investigation into the death of a woman known to him, including having his name removed from police records.
According to a Facebook post by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), this is the first time the agency has brought an allegation of foreign bribery of a public official for personal advantage before a court.
The initial AFP investigation began in September 2024 after the Queensland Police Service referred an overseas missing-person report involving an Australian-Bangladeshi woman.
The following day, Bangladesh Police advised that they had located what they believed to be the woman’s body in Bangladesh. Her identity was subsequently confirmed through forensic testing by Bangladeshi authorities.
Information provided by Bangladeshi authorities indicated that the woman’s cause of death was suspicious.
The AFP then refocused its investigation on the suspicious death under Division 115 of the Criminal Code (Cth), which criminalises the murder, manslaughter or causing of serious harm to Australian citizens or residents while they are overseas.
The AFP said assistance was provided by its global operations network and international partners.
The AFP investigation was separate from a Bangladesh Police investigation into the woman’s death.
As part of its investigation, the AFP executed several search warrants at financial institutions in Sydney and Brisbane, seizing international funds transaction records and bank records.
The AFP alleges that between September 2024 and September 2026, the man conspired with people in Bangladesh to try to influence the Bangladeshi investigation by arranging the transfer of money to pay bribes to public officials.
AFP members arrested the man yesterday and executed search warrants at homes in Goodna and Redbank Plains in Queensland. Investigators seized an electronic device for forensic examination.
The man was charged with one count of bribing a foreign public official under section 70.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The AFP investigation into the suspicious death remains ongoing, as does the Bangladesh Police investigation.
AFP Commander Stephen Jay said attempts to corrupt investigative processes, whether in Australia or overseas, were a serious criminal matter that would be scrutinised.
“The AFP takes allegations of bribery and corruption seriously, particularly where the alleged conduct is intended to influence the outcome of a serious criminal investigation,” Jay said.
“Anyone who attempts to buy influence or interfere with the administration of justice should expect to be held accountable.
“The AFP works every day to protect Australians and Australia's interests, investigating those who threaten our safety, security and democratic way of life.
“We will continue to work closely with our domestic and international partners regarding this investigation.”
Since October 20, 2025, the AFP’s response to foreign bribery has been led by Taskforce Solaris, a dedicated multidisciplinary team focused on preventing, detecting and investigating foreign bribery and grand corruption.
The AFP is also a founding member of the Bribery Prevention Network, a public-private partnership bringing together business, civil society, academia and government to support Australian businesses in preventing, detecting and addressing bribery and corruption and promoting a culture of compliance.