Iranian media report that on Sunday, Ali Akbar Heydarifard, deputy to the former Tehran Prosecutor, was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison.
Heydarifar is one of three judicial personalities accused in the controversial case of the Kahrizak Detention Centre. Detainees were tortured there in 2009 and at least three of them died due to abuse from prison authorities. The notorious former Tehran prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, is also one of the accused in the case.
On Monday, the Tabnak News Website reported on Heydarifar’s arrest, noting that he “is also referred to as Mortazavi’s supportive cane” and that he had earlier “called for public commendations for his own good actions” at Kahrizak.
Families of the victims of the Kahrizak detention centre, who have filed charges against Heydarifard, Mortazavi and Hassan Haddad, have been pursuing the case for three years with little progress.
While Mortazavi was removed from his position as Tehran Prosecutor, being a close ally of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad he was quickly appointed to lead the task force to fight smuggling and more recently was appointed to lead the Social Security Fund.
Mortazavi is accused of transferring detainees to Kahrizak while knowing they would be subjected to abuse and torture. Mortazavi is also accused of trying to cover up the real cause of death of three young men, by claiming that Mohsen Ruholamini, Mohammad Kamrani and Amir Javadifar died at Kahrizak from contracting meningitis.
Mortazavi’s deputy at the time, Ali Akbar Heydarifard, who reportedly signed the detainees’ transfer order, was involved in a recent altercation at a gas station in Esfahan.
He was reportedly trying to jump the line at the gas station when other customers complained. Media reports indicate that Heydarifard took out a gun and began shooting into the air. He was released after Security Forces called to scene checked his ID.
The Iran Prosecutor has announced that Heydarifard is also facing prosecution for the incident at the gas station.
