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Iran Billionaire Sentenced To Death For Corruption by Mcpadosky(m): 6:35pm On Mar 06, 2016 |
Iran has sentenced billionaire tycoon Babak
Zanjani, reportedly one of the country's richest
men, to death, convicting him of corruption
after a long trial on accusations he fraudulently
pocketed $2.8 billion.
A justice official announced the punishment
Sunday, noting that Zanjani, who became
notorious for finding ways to channel hard
currency from oil sales during the sanctions-
ridden era of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
from 2005 to 2013, could appeal.
Zanjani rose to prominence after sanctions
imposed on the Islamic republic's banks as
punishment for its nuclear programme hit the
country's finances hard.
Having taken commissions, he said he was at
all times working with the knowledge and
backing of Ahmadinejad's government and he
boasted in media interviews of his skills and
wealth amassed by managing to subvert the
banking restrictions.
He said he did so using a web of companies in
various countries including the United Arab
Emirates, Turkey and Malaysia, selling millions
of barrels of Iranian oil.
But he was arrested in December 2013, three
months after current President Hassan
Rouhani took office, having pledged to crack
down on corruption.
Zanjani, 41, was convicted of fraud and
economic crimes and must repay money to the
state as well as face the death penalty,
judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni-
Ejeie said.
The trial was public, a rarity for such a major
case in Iran, and two other accused were also
convicted of "corruption on earth", the most
serious offence in the Islamic republic,
meaning they too will face the death penalty.
"The preliminary court has sentenced these
three defendants to be executed, as well as
paying restitution to the plaintiff," said
Mohseni-Ejeie, adding this was the oil ministry.
They must also pay a "fine equal to one fourth
of the money that was laundered", the
spokesman said, without specifying the sum.
Zanjani had denied wrongdoing, insisting the
only reason the money had not been paid to
the oil ministry was that sanctions had
prevented a planned transfer from taking
place. That claim was disputed in court.
The case follows repeated declarations from
Rouhani's government that corruption and the
payment of illegal commissions thrived under
Ahmadinejad's rule. Other trials are ongoing.
- 'Corrupt parasites' -
Zanjani told the media that in return for
commissions he was tasked with
circumventing sanctions to get money back to
Iran. He did so at a time of record high oil
prices, meaning tens of billions of dollars were
at stake.
In October last year, however, Rouhani's oil
minister Bijan Zanganeh hit out at the use of
middlemen such as Zanjani.
Iranian media have put the tycoon's fortune as
high as $13.5 billion, with public opinion split
on whether he was indeed helping the
government or enriching himself at the
country's expense.
Zanganeh and other officials said the latter
was the case.
Speaking after Iran concluded a nuclear deal
with world powers in July, paving the way for
increased foreign activity in Iran's energy
sector, the oil minister urged investors to deal
directly with the government and avoid third
parties.
"We despise the corrupt parasites that want to
suck the nation's blood even in this situation,"
Zanganeh said to loud applause at an industry
event in the capital while Zanjani's trial was
under way.
"I recommend foreign companies stay away
from these corrupt individuals" who know
nothing but "deceitfulness".
Zanjani was among Iranian individuals
blacklisted under US and European sanctions.
The nuclear deal saw a large part of these
sanctions lifted at the beginning of 2016 in
exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear
programme.
Defending the nuclear talks in 2014 before the
deal came about, Rouhani said "a small, fringe
group is very angry about it because they will
suffer losses" and referred to Zanjani as such a
person.
In parliamentary elections last month, the
president secured his goal of a more moderate
parliament, signalling strong public support for
the nuclear accord and creating an opening for
domestic reforms.
As of 2015, Iran ranked first in the world in
natural gas reserves and fourth in proven
crude oil reserves, according to energy giant
BP.
source
www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/iran-billionaire-sentenced-to-death-for-corruption/ |
Re: Iran Billionaire Sentenced To Death For Corruption by Mcpadosky(m): 6:40pm On Mar 06, 2016 |
can dis happen in Nigeria |
Re: Iran Billionaire Sentenced To Death For Corruption by forgiveness: 6:42pm On Mar 06, 2016 |
Dis is what they call, money can buy Justice. |
Re: Iran Billionaire Sentenced To Death For Corruption by omenka(m): 7:14pm On Mar 06, 2016 |
Mcpadosky:Someone was sentenced to death by the supreme court for torture and murder yet people are screaming Buhari is trying to exterminate their tribesmen, calling him a tyrant and a dictator. Sentencing someone to death for corruption would make their hatred boil over and they wouldn't hesitate to call him a Devil. By the way, to do this, our criminal laws have to be amended, and trust the NASS not to tinker with such punishment over corruption since 90% of the members are crooks. 1 Like |
Re: Iran Billionaire Sentenced To Death For Corruption by DonCortino: 7:17pm On Mar 06, 2016 |
And dasuki n co are getting vip treatment. |
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