IRGC intelligence targets Iranian government corruption
After the arrest of a former head of a government-run bank by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the head of the IRGC suggests more arrests may be forthcoming.
The Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested Ali Rastegar Sorkhei, the former managing director of Bank Mellat, on July 19. Rastegar Sorkhei was recently removed after leaked documents exposed that managers and executives at state-run companies were receiving exorbitant salaries and misusing government funds.
According to Tasnim News Agency, Rastegar Sorkhei was arrested for “activities in an organized group of banking corruption.” His deputy was also arrested, though his name was not provided in the Tasnim report. IRGC intelligence referred to Rastegar Sorkhei and his deputy as the “primary members” of this group.
The head of the IRGC, Mohammad Ali Jaffari, said July 20 at a press conference that one of IRGC’s intelligence projects is to “monitor and review” economic corruption. He said that when the IRGC provided the judiciary with Rastegar Sorkhei’s case, the arrest warrant was issued.
Jaffari said that while Rastegar Sorkhei is “certainly” linked to the high government salaries scandal in Iran, he was arrested for “larger economic corruption.” He did not elaborate on what that was. When asked if other arrests would be made, Jaffari said, “Other officials and individuals were involved.”
