Main Defendant in Marvdasht City Council Case Sentenced to 304 Years in Prison

The IRNA news agency reported, citing an 'informed source', that initial sentences have been issued for the defendants in the financial corruption case involving the Marvdasht municipality and city council. The main defendant in this case has been sentenced to 304 years in prison. This source, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that there are 29 defendants in this case, and the 101st branch of the Shiraz Criminal Court issued their initial sentences on the evening of Tuesday this week. In early May 2018, it was reported that the former mayor and several members of the Islamic Council, the central district governor, and the deputy for urban development of the Marvdasht governorate were arrested following allegations of 'economic corruption' by the Ministry of Intelligence. On the last day of June, the head of the Fars judiciary announced that the case was being processed regarding allegations of 'bribery' in the provincial prosecutor's office. An informed source close to IRNA stated that the 29 defendants were tried in six sessions under charges of bribery, being bribed, fraud in government transactions, and embezzlement. According to him, the court ultimately found 28 of them guilty of 'criminal behavior' and recognized them as subject to aggravated punishment due to the multiplicity of committed offenses. According to IRNA, the main defendant in this case has been sentenced to a total of 304.5 years in prison, 28 billion rials in fines, 81 years of disqualification from public service, and compensation of 120 million rials to the government for participating in bribery and fraud in government transactions. This informed source added that 'the main perpetrator of this corruption case has also been sentenced to six counts of 4.5 years in prison for participating in six counts of bribery, 18 counts of 15 years in prison, 18 counts of 111 lashes, and 18 counts of temporary disqualification for 4.5 years from public service.' This individual is also required to pay '18 fines totaling 1 billion 582 million 170 thousand 633 tomans, equivalent to one and a half times the amounts received for participating in 18 counts of bribery and one count of 7.5 years in prison, in addition to compensating the damage of 120 million rials to the government fund for fraud in government transactions.' This is one of the heaviest sentences issued in recent years for defendants of corruption in city and village Islamic councils and municipalities in Iran. According to this informed source, nine other defendants in this case have also been sentenced to '15 years in prison, 111 lashes, disqualification from public service, payment of fines equivalent to the amounts received, and also 7.5 years in prison and compensation for fraud in government transactions.' Thirteen other defendants who engaged in 'bribery and payment of bribes and participation in the realization of this crime' have each been sentenced to six months in prison. According to the informed source close to IRNA, 'five other bribers in this case have each been sentenced to one year in prison and the confiscation of all cash, remittances, checks, and documents paid in favor of the government.' He added that the case regarding one other defendant is still open, and 'the court, in the context of applying supplementary punishments, has sentenced defendants one to eight, in addition to the announced punishments, to two years of compulsory residence and a ban on leaving the country.' However, according to him, the verdict issued for the defendants is not final and is subject to appeal in the appellate courts of Fars province. As this informed source told IRNA, the ruling issued by the 101st branch of the Shiraz Criminal Court states, 'According to the law, for defendants facing multiple punishments, only the most severe punishment will be applied, and if for any reason the most severe punishment is reduced, converted, or becomes unenforceable for one of the legal reasons, the next most severe punishment will be executed.' This is not the first time that the arrest of a city and village council member has been reported by Iranian media. A significant number of elected members of the fifth term of Islamic councils, which began their activities in September 2017, have faced financial, ethical, political, and social allegations and have been arrested. In the past year, more than 30 council members have been disqualified for various reasons and have lost their positions, with judicial sentences issued for some of them.