Iran seeks answers in death of fugitive judge
The Iranian judiciary seeks answers after a fugitive judge fell from a hotel window in Bucharest.
Iranian officials are seeking answers from Romanian authorities after former Iranian judge Gholamreza Mansouri, who was facing corruption charges in Iran, fell out of an upper window Friday at the Duke Hotel in Bucharest, Romania.
Mansouri, a former member of Iran’s Supreme Court, was facing extradition to Iran on charges that he allegedly took about 500,000 euros in bribes. He had been staying at the Duke Hotel for 10 days before his death. According to Romanian media, Mansouri was on his way back to his room after paying his hotel bill at the front desk. Romanian police are currently reviewing camera footage.
General Prosecutor of Iran Mohammad Jaffar Montazeri called Mansouri’s death “suspicious" and said Iran would not be able to make specific comments until more is made clear about his death. Montazeri said the judiciary has written a letter to Romanian officials, which will be delivered through Iran’s Foreign Ministry. Iran also invited the Romanian Ambassador Adrian Kozjacski to answer questions about Mansouri’s death.
Mansouri had cancer and claimed he traveled to Germany to seek treatment but was unable to fly back to Iran after having traveled to Romania to face charges due to the coronavirus shutdown. According to Iranian media, Mansouri had spoken to his lawyer and family members before he died and was in good spirits. An Iranian judiciary official said that he was not facing a heavy sentence, suggesting that it could be a maximum of three years, adding more to speculation as to why he would take his own life if facing such a small prison sentence.
