Iran judiciary upholds another death sentence for economic corruption
Iran’s judiciary has sentenced dozens of individuals to prison for cases related to the fluctuation in the currency market earlier in the year.
In an attempt to address economic issues and root out corruption, Iran’s judiciary has handed out another death sentence and dozens of long prison sentences for economic charges.
According to judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Hamid Bagheri Darmani. He was originally arrested in 2014 and charged with “corruption on earth,” which carries the death sentence. Bagheri Darmani was accused of embezzlement at a number of Iranian companies, including at Jey Oil Refining Company, Bank Melli Iran, Iran Insurance Company and Tourism Bank.
Bagheri Darmani’s arrest was long before the latest crackdown by the judiciary to stamp out corruption in the exchange market and other general economic corruption. However, the announcement by the judiciary and headlines in Iranian media suggest it is being packaged in a manner that it is part of the judiciary’s heavy-handed measures to demonstrate that there will be little leniency with economic charges.
In relation to the cases stemming from the exchange rate fluctuation earlier in the year, Mohseni-Ejei announced 30 convictions in Tehran and Shiraz for “disturbing the economic system.” The sentences ranged from one year to 10 years in prison, heavy fines, and confiscation of property and finances. In November, Iran hanged two men — one of them dubbed “Sultan of Coins” — after they were accused of manipulating the currency market. Their cases made international news.
