Following the Appeal Request, Zanjani's Case Sent to the Supreme Court

Following the objection of a businessman close to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government to his sentence, Babak Zanjani's defense attorney announced in an interview with media that his client's case has been sent for appeal to the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic. Rasul Kouhpayezadeh, Zanjani's lawyer, stated on Saturday, May 21, to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) that Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, after receiving the objection and 'our appeal petition,' has sent the case to the Supreme Court. Kouhpayezadeh added that currently, the Supreme Court has received the case but has not yet assigned a branch. Babak Zanjani and two other defendants in the oil case have been recognized by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court as 'corrupt on earth' and sentenced to execution, restitution of property, and a monetary fine. In another news on May 18, Asghar Jahangir, head of the Prisons Organization, announced that Zanjani is still in 'solitary confinement.' Jahangir also mentioned that Zanjani has had meetings with some judicial officials regarding the return of his funds. The issuance of the death sentence for Babak Zanjani has faced various reactions in Iran, with some arguing that his execution is not a solution. In this context, on Tuesday, May 17, Mohammad Bagheri Benab, a representative, stated in an open session of the parliament that 'with the execution of Babak Zanjani, the black box of several thousand billion corruption will be destroyed.' On May 8, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the Minister of Justice, commented on a television program that 'Zanjani's execution will not bring back the money.' Last Esfand, Hossein Dehdashti, head of the committee investigating Zanjani's case in the ninth parliament, also stated that with Zanjani's execution, 'influential individuals' and 'the hands behind the scenes' in this case will be 'forgotten.' Babak Zanjani, who reportedly assisted Ahmadinejad's government in circumventing Western banking sanctions, was arrested on December 30, 2013, following a complaint from the Iranian Ministry of Oil. The main charges against Babak Zanjani include corruption on earth and disruption of the economic system of the country, extensive fraud against the National Iranian Oil Company, fraud against the 'FIIIB' bank, forgery of banking documents and currency transfers, forgery of interbank transfer orders, and money laundering amounting to 1,967 million euros, as well as spreading falsehoods. Babak Zanjani and his lawyer had previously stated that as long as Western sanctions against Iran are not lifted, it is impossible to deposit Zanjani's debts into the account of the National Iranian Oil Company.