Issuance of Bail Order Following Hamid Baghaei's Court Appearance

After Hamid Baghaei, the former executive vice president of Iran, appeared at the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Court on Sunday, August 6, Iranian media reported the issuance of a bail order for him. According to the state news agency IRNA, the reason for Baghaei's summons to the court was 'to provide some explanations regarding his statements after his release.' Meanwhile, the 'Dolat Bahar' website, affiliated with supporters of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, reported on Sunday that Baghaei was released on bail. Similar news was also published by the ISNA news agency. Previously, according to ISNA, Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi, the Tehran prosecutor, had described Baghaei's recent remarks and those of his supporters about the accusations and his detention status as 'boastful' and 'unprecedented,' and reported that a 30-page indictment had been issued against Ahmadinejad's former deputy with five charges. He stated on August 1 that Baghaei's case would soon be sent to court. After his release on a 20 billion tomans bail, Ahmadinejad's executive deputy called the statements of Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the judiciary spokesperson, claiming that he had not agreed to be transferred to a general cell, 'a lie,' and said, 'Mr. Ejei is lying just like he did when he was at the Ministry of Intelligence.' Mohseni Ejei had stated that the judge ordered Baghaei's transfer to a general ward, but he claimed, 'I am very comfortable in this suite, and it is better for me to stay here.' Baghaei also stated, 'I did nothing to go to prison. I participated in the elections and wrote someone else's name. We know where it hurts you, and we know you will soon be overthrown.' The remarks of Ahmadinejad's executive deputy provoked reactions from the judiciary and the Tehran prosecutor's office. Among them, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said, 'At least regarding myself, it is not surprising that individuals accused of financial corruption may want to change the course of the case with uproar and pressure on the judiciary.' He added, 'The judiciary will address the issues as necessary, but I personally was not in a position to file complaints regarding personal matters; however, if the issues relate to the judiciary and other institutions, the prosecutor will intervene.' Mohseni Ejei had previously stated regarding Baghaei's remarks: 'The Tehran prosecutor's office is pursuing this matter, and the case is under review.' Baghaei had previously been arrested in June 2015 on charges of 'embezzlement' and was released in December of the same year.