Azerbaijan, Baku, September 5 /Trend, N. Umid
The former First Vice President of the Ahmadinejad government Mohammad Reza Rahimi has been interrogated over the Iran Insurance Company fraud case and disruption in the currency market, Iranian MP, Kamaladdin Pirmoazzen said, Mehr news agency reported.
He went on to note that one of the main culprits of the currency market case has confessed his relationship with Rahimi`s son.
Last week Iranian media outlets were informed that Rahimi has been arrested, but the news was denied by his advocate.
On August 28, member of the Iranian parliament, Ali Mutahhari told Mehr news agency that he had heard about the imprisonment of the former first vice president of previous Iranian government Mohammad Reza Rahimi, without revealing any details.
Rahimi`s advocate Mohammad Reza Naderi criticised the media for publishing news about Rahimi`s arrest, adding that he will carry the issue to court due to the spreading of lies and slander.
Rahimi was one of ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's close allies. He has been charged in several fraud cases so far, but according to some MPs, Ahmadinejad used his influence to prevent investigations about his cases in the courts.
In a fraud case against the Iran Insurance Company a defendant claimed to have paid more than $1.2 million in bribes to Rahimi.
Late month Rahimi defended newly jailed businessman Yadollah Roozchang the general director of the Khorshid Zarivar Company who is accused of disruption on the currency market and USD smuggling, saying he is innocent.
Rahimi said that Roozchang is the victim of disputes between the government and Judiciary System.
The statement caused a reaction from Iran's Judiciary System spokesman Mohseni Ejei who expressed his sorrow to hear of Rahimi's support to Roozchang and his ignorance about the case.
Roozchang reportedly has been charged for money laundering.