Iranian Judiciary Official: Sentencing Issued for 21 Cases of 'Exorbitant Salaries'

The head of the General and Revolutionary Courts of Tehran announced the issuance of sentences for 21 cases related to the 'exorbitant salaries' of government officials, stating that some individuals have been sentenced to prison, fines, and the return of these salaries. Abbas Pourian, in an interview with the Mizan news agency on Friday, June 4, said that indictments have been issued for 42 cases related to 'exorbitant salaries.' According to Mr. Pourian, the court has issued rulings for 21 cases, with 15 individuals convicted and six acquitted. He added, 'Some of these individuals have been sentenced to return property, imprisonment, and monetary fines.' Previously, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, stated that 70 individuals have been summoned in connection with the case of 'exorbitant salaries.' The issue of high salaries for some officials during Hassan Rouhani's government was exposed in 2016 when salary slips of the CEO of the National Development Fund and managers of certain banks were published in conservative media. Different figures have been mentioned regarding the number of managers receiving high salaries. Adel Azar, head of the Court of Audit, announced on February 1, 2018, that 397 managers who received 'unconventional' salaries totaling 23.3 billion tomans returned all the amounts to the treasury. However, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, stated in December 2016 that among the reviewed cases, only 'four individuals had unconventional salaries.' Yet, in August 2017, he said that 'about 40 managers received unconventional salaries.' Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, previously stated that the figures ranged from '100 to 300 individuals.' Mr. Rouhani also mentioned that 'unconventional payments are not limited to the executive branch.' Meanwhile, Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said that this issue also exists in other institutions, including the Executive Headquarters of Imam's Command, an economic and financial institution under the supervision of Ayatollah Khamenei. Indictments have also been issued for 12 cases related to the transfer of municipal properties in Tehran. Shortly after the 'exorbitant salaries' case, a report emerged about a 'special discount of over 50%' by the municipality in transferring expensive homes to certain individuals, which became known as 'astronomical properties.' According to a report by the General Inspection Organization, the Tehran municipality was accused of 'violating' over 2 trillion tomans in selling its properties to city council members, municipal managers, some journalists from state media, and the housing cooperative of the judiciary. Meanwhile, the head of the General and Revolutionary Courts of Tehran announced on Friday that indictments have been issued for 12 cases related to the transfer of municipal properties. According to Mr. Pourian, these cases have been referred to the Government Employees Judicial Complex, but no rulings have been issued yet. Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, stated in December 2016 that 66 individuals had been summoned in the case of the municipal property transfers. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General of Iran, also stated that 45 transfer contracts should be annulled and discounts given to 150 individuals should be returned.