Member of Parliament: With the Execution of Zanjani, the Hidden Hands Will Be Forgotten

The head of the committee investigating Babak Zanjani's case in Parliament emphasized that with the execution of Mr. Zanjani, "influential individuals" and "hidden hands" in this case will be "forgotten." He urged the judiciary to postpone the execution of the defendants in this case until "they confess to the hidden hands behind the scenes." Hossein Dehdashti, on Sunday, March 6, in an interview with the House of Parliament News Agency, accused unnamed "influential individuals" in the "previous government" of "pocketing public funds" in this case. The representative of Abadan in Parliament stressed that "the environment of corruption created in Babak Zanjani's case was entirely designed by powerful and influential individuals who will escape the law with his execution." He referred to Babak Zanjani's case as a "showcase of widespread violations by certain powerful individuals" and stated that "the judiciary should postpone the execution of this defendant until he confesses to all violations and the influential individuals in the case." Mr. Dehdashti also mentioned that Babak Zanjani, "with a significant background, is still hopeful for freedom." Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i, the spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, announced on Sunday that the court had sentenced Babak Zanjani and two other defendants in this case to execution, rejection of debt to the National Iranian Oil Company, and a monetary fine. Rasul Kouhpayehzadeh, Babak Zanjani's lawyer, stated that he would appeal the ruling issued for his client in the primary court. Amir Abbas Soltani, a member of the committee reviewing Babak Zanjani's case in Parliament, said on Friday, February 19, that the court ignored Zanjani's "supporters" and did not address the case of 12 managers from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government who facilitated his violations. Mr. Soltani had previously accused several ministers, including the Minister of Intelligence, Minister of Economy, Central Bank Governor, and Minister of Oil from Ahmadinejad's government, of being "involved" in Babak Zanjani's case and allowing him to sell oil in a meeting. In this context, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi, the Tehran prosecutor, stated on February 15 that several ministers from the previous government who signed the "minutes" related to Babak Zanjani and "some relevant officials" are under investigation. Previously, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i, the spokesman for the judiciary, had reported on October 6, 2014, that investigations were underway regarding three ministers and the Central Bank Governor from Ahmadinejad's government concerning Babak Zanjani's case. Babak Zanjani is accused in the indictment of having received "one million barrels of oil worth 300 million euros" from the Iranian oil company and having paid only "160 million euros" of the 2.7 billion euros he was obligated to pay, spending the rest on personal matters. During the trial, Mr. Zanjani repeatedly stated that he would pay the debt to the National Iranian Oil Company. Most recently, Mr. Zanjani's lawyer announced that the bank designated by the Central Bank and the National Oil Company for the payment of his client's debt "refused to accept the funds and transfer them." However, the head of the Ministry of Oil's debt collection committee stated on Sunday that Iranian oil debtors deposited their money into "the same account that was provided to Babak Zanjani." According to ISNA news agency, Ali Asghar Hindi stated that if Babak Zanjani and his lawyers have problems paying the debt to the account number announced by the National Oil Company, this company is ready to provide "a new account number for payment." He emphasized that "despite the full cooperation from the Ministry of Oil, the defendant has not yet paid a single dollar of his oil debt." Babak Zanjani and his lawyer had previously stated that as long as Western sanctions against Iran are in place, it is impossible for Mr. Zanjani to deposit his debt into the account of the National Iranian Oil Company. Ali Akbar Maharkhzad, the legal affairs manager of the National Iranian Oil Company, had previously described these statements as "pretexts" and stated that the company is willing to receive its debt from Mr. Zanjani, even to accounts that are sanctioned and "blocked" until after the sanctions are lifted. In this context, Babak Zanjani and two defendants in the oil case were sentenced to death, the Tehran prosecutor requested the "harshest punishment" for Babak Zanjani, a member of Parliament stated that the Zanjani court did not address the case of 12 Ahmadinejad managers, the Ministry of Oil announced that preparations for the sale of Mr. Zanjani's assets had begun, the Minister of Justice stated that they have fallen short in the fight against corruption, Babak Zanjani "has not yet taken any special action to pay his debt," three "Continental Oil Managers" were arrested for a 200 million euro violation, and a one-month extension was granted to Babak Zanjani for debt payment.