Tehran Judiciary Issues Verdict for Hamid Baghaei Concurrently with Ahmadinejad's Video Message

Simultaneously with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's video message against the head of the judiciary, the head of Tehran's judiciary announced the issuance of Hamid Baghaei's verdict, while the Tehran prosecutor's office considered Ahmadinejad's 48-hour deadline to the judiciary as a sign of his 'excessive desire' to create 'hype and public confusion.' The Tehran prosecutor's office also stated to the former president of Iran that 'instead of threatening others, be accountable to the judiciary.' According to the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, head of Tehran's judiciary, announced that Hamid Baghaei's verdict, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's deputy during his presidency, was issued to him on Tuesday morning, December 19. He did not refer to the details of this verdict, and websites close to Mr. Baghaei have not published any report in this regard. 'Payment of a total of 300 million tomans to 16 members of the government,' 'assistance to the International University of Iranians,' 'assistance to the Iranian House Organization,' 'assistance to the state newspaper Iran,' and 'collusion in the conclusion of contracts and transactions of five companies' are among the charges against Mr. Baghaei. However, Mr. Baghaei has denied these charges, stating that the allegations and evidence in his case are 'illegal.' Hamid Baghaei was arrested in July of this year and was released on a bail of 20 billion tomans. He was also arrested in 2015 due to financial allegations, after which individuals close to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reported that he was released by the order of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Hours before the news of Hamid Baghaei's verdict was issued, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced in a video message that the head of the judiciary has been 'disqualified from justice' due to 'repeated violations of the constitution' and is 'unqualified,' 'illegitimate,' and 'usurper,' and must resign. This message from Mr. Ahmadinejad was published after the expiration of his 48-hour deadline to the judiciary. On December 17, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had given the judiciary a 48-hour deadline to publish 'documents related to his and his associates' convictions.' According to him, the allegations made by Sadeq Larijani against him and his associates, including accusations of being 'seditionist, deviant, and supporter of Mr. Babak Zanjani,' contain 'criminal titles.' Sadeq Larijani, the head of the judiciary, accused Mr. Ahmadinejad and his associates of 'sedition,' 'calling for chaos,' 'lying,' and 'supporting Babak Zanjani' during a meeting with a number of students on December 13. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General of the country, stated on Tuesday in response to Ahmadinejad's threats that 'this issue will be addressed in the next couple of days.' Meanwhile, the Tehran prosecutor's office issued a statement that seems to have been issued before the publication of Ahmadinejad's video message against the head of the judiciary, considering the former president's deadline as a sign of his and his associates' 'excessive desire' to create 'hype and public confusion.' The statement emphasized that Ahmadinejad's threat that he would express his opinion about the judiciary's performance after the expiration of the 48-hour deadline would 'not affect the determination of the judges handling the cases of individuals related to Ahmadinejad.' The Tehran prosecutor's office also 'recommended' the former president of Iran to 'be accountable to the judiciary instead of threatening others.' Mr. Ahmadinejad was summoned to court in 2013 but did not attend, and despite four years passing, his court has not yet been held. The Tehran prosecutor's office also announced that the cases of several members of Ahmadinejad's government who were 'related' to Babak Zanjani are under investigation, but due to 'the non-public nature of criminal investigations and the prohibition of publication,' details will not be announced. Amir Abbas Soltani, a member of the committee investigating Babak Zanjani's case in the ninth parliament, has repeatedly stated that Babak Zanjani's court has ignored his 'supporters' and has not addressed the cases of 12 managers of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government who facilitated his violations. Mr. Soltani has also repeatedly accused the Minister of Intelligence, the Minister of Economy, the head of the Central Bank, and the Minister of Oil of Ahmadinejad's government of being 'involved' in Babak Zanjani's case and allowing him to sell oil in a meeting. Judiciary officials, without referring to details, have reported 'investigations' of three ministers and the head of the Central Bank of Ahmadinejad's government regarding Babak Zanjani's case. However, Mahmoud Bahmani, the head of the Central Bank during Ahmadinejad's presidency, was approved for candidacy in the tenth parliament elections and is now a representative of Saveh in parliament.