Arrest Made in Connection with Missing Oil Rig Case

Twenty days after the Iranian Oil Minister's statements regarding the formation of a case about the 'disappearance' of an oil rig, the spokesperson for the judiciary confirmed that a case has been opened in the Tehran prosecutor's office and one person has been arrested. According to ISNA news agency, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary, stated on Tuesday, July 22, during a press conference that investigations have been conducted on individuals related to this case and information has been obtained, but 'this information needs to be verified.' Bijan Zangeneh, the Iranian Oil Minister, on Tuesday, July 2, confirmed reports about the 'disappearance' of an oil rig purchased from a foreign company during the previous administration, stating that a case has been formed following the 'pursuit and complaint' of the ministry. Ten days after the Oil Minister's statements, Hossein Dehdashti, a member of the Energy Commission of the Parliament, reported that with the entry of the Inspection Organization into this case last year, 'several individuals' have been arrested. Mr. Dehdashti also mentioned that the Marine Facilities Company in the previous administration purchased another rig, but this rig has not entered Iran. In another part of his remarks, the spokesperson for the judiciary announced that 'five individuals' who participated in the protests against the 2009 presidential election, referred to by him as 'sedition,' have been sentenced to prison. According to Mr. Mohseni Ejei, some of these individuals had returned to Iran from abroad, while others reside in Iran. He did not mention the names or the length of the sentences for these individuals. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and his close associates refer to the protests against the 2009 presidential election results as 'sedition.' The judiciary spokesperson also stated that 'two to three' other protesters have been banned from leaving the country. According to Mr. Mohseni Ejei, some of these protesters living abroad are 'still being pursued,' and if they do not return to Iran, they 'may' be tried in absentia. The judiciary spokesperson had previously reported several times that a number of protesters against the 2009 presidential election results living abroad have been tried and sentenced in absentia. In his remarks on Tuesday, Mr. Mohseni Ejei responded to criticisms regarding the amendment to Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code, stating: 'If in some organized crimes the accused can even have a conversation with a lawyer, it may lead to a disaster.' According to a new resolution by the Islamic Consultative Assembly and changes made to the Criminal Procedure Code, parties involved in cases related to security crimes and organized crimes can only choose their lawyer from among those approved by the head of the judiciary during the preliminary investigation stage.