Four sentenced to death in Iran's biggest ever bank fraud case < br />

2012-07-31 05:59:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEHRAN, IRAN (BNO NEWS) -- A court in Iran has sentenced four people to be executed for their role in what has been described as the country's largest ever bank fraud case, judicial officials said on Monday. Dozens more have received jail terms and were ordered to pay fines.

Iranian Prosecutor General Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i said four defendants were sentenced to death while two others were given life imprisonment for their part in the case, which involved a series of loans from Iranian banks to the Amir Mansour Arya Investment Company, which used fraudulent documents to purchase state-owned companies.

As many as seven state-owned and private Iranian banks are said to have been involved in the $2.6 billion embezzlement case, which was first discovered in 2010 but had been going on since at least 2007. The investigation resulted in nearly 80 arrests in November 2011, although only 39 of them were eventually put on trial.

Besides the arrests, several banks have also fired top officials who were believed to have been either at fault or involved in the fraud case. The case also triggered a vote in parliament in November 2011 to impeach economic affairs and finance minister Shamseddin Hosseini, but he survived the vote after 141 of the 244 lawmakers voted to uphold his position.

In addition to the four death sentences and the two people sentenced to life imprisonment, the Iranian court also handed down sentences to the other defendants. Ejeii said the other defendants received prison terms between 10 and 25 years, although some received lighter sentences such as paying fines and returning assets.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-07-31

Some good news coming out of Iran.

Indeed. All these big players around the world, getting rich, stuffing their faces with the blood, sweat and tears of the normal people by means of fraudelant activities are right up there with the worst of the worst in my opinion. And therefore should be dealt with accordingly. I wonder how many people have committed suicide because of the actions of Bernie Madoff and his like. Well done Iran. Well done indeed. Any spare execution witness seat left ???

Bob Diamond, are you watching?

Iran have a pastor facing the death sentence for converting to Christianity. However when this became embarrassing due to bad publicity a succession of obviously trumped up charges were also made on a post-hoc basis. Perhaps this case is as described, but I would take nothing from the Iranian regime or judiciary at face value.

Iran have a pastor facing the death sentence for converting to Christianity. However when this became embarrassing due to bad publicity a succession of obviously trumped up charges were also made on a post-hoc basis. Perhaps this case is as described, but I would take nothing from the Iranian regime or judiciary at face value.

Good point. But the question must be asked, what is the difference between Christians being persecuted in Iran, and Christians being persecuted in Syria. Or Iraq or Libya. Oh right, these persecutors of Christians are OK, useful to the West. Surely we are not hypocrites. Heaven forbid!

Iran have a pastor facing the death sentence for converting to Christianity. However when this became embarrassing due to bad publicity a succession of obviously trumped up charges were also made on a post-hoc basis. Perhaps this case is as described, but I would take nothing from the Iranian regime or judiciary at face value.

Good point. But the question must be asked, what is the difference between Christians being persecuted in Iran, and Christians being persecuted in Syria. Or Iraq or Libya. Oh right, these persecutors of Christians are OK, useful to the West. Surely we are not hypocrites. Heaven forbid!

Where these bankers Christian,or is this the usual suspects bashing Iran.