Tehran, Iran, April 4
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
An Iranian court has delivered a death sentence formerly issued for billionaire Babak Zanjani.
Zanjani's lawyer Rasoul Koohpaye Zadeh said he received the sentence from Revolution Court Branch 15, ILNA news agency reported April 4.
"The delivery process has in fact begun today as the verdict comes in 318 pages and we should start taking notes, which takes time. When we are done taking notes, the verdict is considered as delivered, since which day we will have 20 days to plea," the lawyer added.
A ruling announced March 6 convicted Zanjani and sentenced him to death, according to the Islamic juristic laws.
In December 2013, Iranian judiciary officials accused Zanjani of massive fraud at the Oil Ministry and money laundering. He has been kept in custody and attended court hearing sessions since then.
After sanctions were imposed against the National Iranian Oil Company, Iran had to partially export its oil through Zanjani's channels. Meanwhile, the ministry said Zanjani still owes more than two billion euros for the oil exports he handled on behalf of the former government.