Possibility of Pardon for Economic Offender Sentenced to Death; Ejei: Babak Zanjani's Assets Will Cover His Debts and Damages

The judiciary states that Babak Zanjani, who has been sentenced to death for "embezzlement and financial corruption," may be released after 10 years upon "paying his debts." This comes as the Iranian judicial system recently executed a punishment of finger amputation for a prisoner accused of stealing five sheep. Iranian judicial officials announced that there is a "possibility of pardon" for Babak Zanjani, a major economic corruption suspect sentenced to death in the early 2010s, "if debts are paid." Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the Iranian judiciary, stated on Monday, February 19, during a meeting of the Supreme Council of this institution, that Zanjani's assets abroad have been identified and transferred to Tehran, and "these assets will cover his debts and damages," adding that "if we include the previously returned assets, it will be more than enough." Babak Zanjani had previously claimed to have "four billion dollars" in assets across five or six countries. The head of the judiciary mentioned that during this time, "delegations" were sent to those countries to pursue Zanjani's claims, but no assets or funds were found. According to Ejei, Zanjani was handed over to the Ministry of Intelligence for "clarifying the status of his assets" for "a long time," and "after that, another security agency came in," yet "besides his domestic assets" and "two or three movable assets abroad," nothing else was identified. The head of the judiciary claimed without details that "in the next phase, a group of individuals from a responsible agency" began a "new task" to identify Babak Zanjani's assets, but again did not reach any conclusions, until the accused "recently announced his intention to cooperate, and signs of his sincerity became apparent, introducing significant assets." The possibility of Babak Zanjani's release comes as he was sentenced to death on March 7, 2016, alongside two other defendants in the case, while three others were sentenced to return funds to the National Iranian Oil Company and a fine equivalent to a quarter of the money laundered. The death sentence for Babak Zanjani was also communicated on April 4, 2016. Rumors of Zanjani's release come amidst previous instances where some economic offenders linked to the Islamic Republic, including Akbar Tabari and Mehdi Hashemi, were released from prison before completing their sentences, with the judiciary claiming their release was based on "legal standards." Meanwhile, the Iranian judiciary is executing amputation punishments for some petty thieves. Recently, judicial officials executed the punishment of finger amputation for a prisoner accused of "stealing five sheep" in Qom Central Prison. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, the director of Iran Human Rights, told Voice of America that the "corrupt system" of the Islamic Republic issues amputations for the weak instead of addressing embezzlements. The announcement of the possibility of pardon for Babak Zanjani, recognized as an economic criminal and sentenced to death, coincides with the execution of two young men shortly after their arrest for "violent robbery" in public in Tehran.