Baku, Azerbaijan, March 6
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani, was sentenced to death, the Islamic Republic's Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei said.
The court of first instance has issued its verdict on the case of Zanjani and his two accomplices who were charged with corruption, Ejei said, Iran's state-run IRINN TV reported March 6.
The issued sentence is tentative and can be appealed for a review.
Earlier 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.