Iran sentences tycoon to death
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Version 0 of 1. TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s judiciary spokesman says a court has sentenced a well-known tycoon to death for corruption after a nearly five-month trial. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehei told reporters on Sunday that a primary court has sentenced Babak Zanjani and two of his associates to death. The verdict can be appealed. Zanjani was arrested in 2013 during a crackdown on alleged corruption during the rule of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran’s Oil Ministry says Zanjani owes more than 2 billion euros ($2.25 billion) for oil sales he made on behalf of Ahmadinejad’s government. Zanjani is one of Iran’s wealthiest businessmen, with a fortune worth an estimated $14 billion. He was arrested shortly after the election of President Hassan Rouhani. In 2014, Iran executed billionaire businessman Mahafarid Amir Khosravi over corruption charges. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |