Hamid Baghaei, Ahmadinejad's Executive Deputy, Released on Bail

Sohrab Soleimani, the director general of prisons in Tehran province, stated that Hamid Baghaei, the executive deputy of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the tenth government, was released from prison on Monday, January 28, on bail. However, he did not provide details regarding the amount of bail. According to IRNA, Soleimani clarified: "Hamid Baghaei was arrested on June 18 of this year, and his detention order was extended six times." Baghaei was part of Ahmadinejad's inner circle and was the second deputy of the tenth president of Iran to be arrested. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary, announced Baghaei's arrest on June 18, stating: "He was summoned today, and a detention order was issued for him." Meanwhile, Adel Heydari, Baghaei's lawyer, confirmed the release of his client from Evin prison on bail. According to ILNA news agency, Heydari commented on whether a charge and indictment had been issued against Baghaei during his detention, stating that necessary investigations were conducted while his client was in custody and are still ongoing. He added that due to the ongoing investigations, no indictment has yet been issued for Hamid Baghaei. Heydari deferred any further information regarding the bail amount and his client's charges to the next meeting of Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary. In this context, according to IRNA, Ali Asghar Hosseini, one of Baghaei's lawyers, had previously stated that his client's charges relate to the payment of bonuses to some ministers, officials, and government authorities at the end of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency. Additionally, Baghaei's lawyer mentioned that his client's health condition is poor and that the charges against him include embezzlement. There have been requests to investigate Baghaei's violations in the Cultural Heritage Organization. Ahmadinejad's office stated that the responsibility for Baghaei's health lies with the judiciary.