Four people charged in Iran’s $3-billion bank fraud, which is being called the greatest case of financial corruption in the country’s history, have been sentenced to death.
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told IRNA today, on Monday, that the verdict has been finalized and will soon be delivered to the accused and their lawyers.
“Of the 39 individuals charged in the case, four have been sentenced to death, two to life in prison and others have received prison sentences of 25, 20, 10 or fewer years in jail,” he said.
According to his report, the sentence also includes fines, floggings and a permanent ban from all government services and loss of property.
The fraud case involved a large network of financiers and bank officials who reportedly amassed $3-billion through the sale of fraudulent letters of credit.
The case led to the dismissal of the heads of two major Iranian banks, Saderal and Melli. The head of Melli Bank, Mahmoudreza Khavari, fled the country as soon as the news of the fraud was publicized and he is currently residing in Canada.
Meanwhile, many top figures in the Islamic Republic establishment have been mentioned as being possible links in this fraud network, including top figures in the president’s office and former ministers.
