Supreme Court Overturns Acquittal of Yasin Ramin, Sentences Him to Three Years in Prison and Fines

The Supreme Court of Iran has overturned the acquittal of Yasin Ramin, accused in the 'embezzlement' case from the Medical Procurement Organization of the Red Crescent Society, sentencing him to three years in prison and a fine of over 873,000 euros. According to Iranian news agencies, the 19th branch of the Supreme Court has convicted Mr. Ramin of 'breach of trust' to three years of imprisonment, taking into account his previous detention, and he must also pay 873,887 euros in addition to court costs and the plaintiff's attorney fees. Mr. Ramin was detained from August to March 2017 but was later released on bail. The Red Crescent Society had filed a complaint against him in 2014 for 'embezzlement,' 'illegal appropriation,' and 'squandering public assets,' which led to a 17-year prison sentence and a restitution of two million euros in May 2019 by the court for public employees. He, who was the manager of the pharmaceutical company 'Roshd,' was accused of receiving two million euros from the Red Crescent for importing medicines and medical equipment but failing to deliver this amount to the seller. Following Mr. Ramin's appeal against his sentence, the appellate court acquitted him of the charges. Now, with the appeal by the Medical Procurement Organization of the Red Crescent, his acquittal has been 'overturned' and he has been sentenced to imprisonment and fines. Reports indicate that Yasin Ramin left Iran after the appellate court's ruling. Mahnaz Afshar, an actress and Mr. Ramin's wife, shared a picture of him in their yard with their daughter on her Instagram story last week, congratulating him on Father's Day in English, stating, 'We both are proud of you.'