Trial of U.S. hikers in Iran to resume soon

[News_Editor]

Trial of U.S. hikers in Iran to resume soon

2011-04-11 22:36:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN (BNO NEWS) -- Iran announced on Monday that the trial of three American citizens held in the country for illegal entry and charged with espionage will resume within weeks, Press TV reported.


"As decided by the court, the trial of the two nationals will be held in Ordibehesht (April 21-May 21)," Iran's Prosecutor-General and Judiciary Spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeii told reporters.



Joshua Felix Fattal, Shane Michael Bauer, and Sarah Emily Shourd were arrested in the Western Iranian district of Marivan at the Malakh-Khur border point on July 31, 2009 for crossing Iran's border with Iraq illegally. They pleaded not guilty after Iranian authorities charged them of entering the country illegally and having links to U.S. intelligence.

Shourd, 32, was released on September 14 after posting a $500,000 bail, more than 14 months after her arrest. She was not present at the first session of the trial, but her lawyer submitted a statement on her behalf.

Ejeii had mentioned that Shourd's bail would probably be confiscated if she refused to appear in court session, but underlined that the decision is on the court, according to Press TV.



"Confiscation of Sarah Shourd's bail depends on the court's decision due to her absence in the trial process," Ejeii noted.

The Tehran Prosecutor's office says it has "compelling evidence" that the detainees were cooperating with US intelligence agencies.

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