The Death Sentence of Babak Zanjani Confirmed by the Supreme Court

Iranian judicial officials have announced the confirmation of Babak Zanjani's death sentence, the main accused in the oil corruption case and a billionaire close to former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the death sentences of the second and third defendants in the case have been overturned. Gholamreza Ansari, Deputy for Supervision and Inspection of the Supreme Court, reported to the Mizan news agency on Saturday, December 4, that Zanjani's death sentence has been confirmed, but the court has overturned the death sentences of Mehdi Shams and Hamid Fallah Heravi, the second and third defendants, referring their cases to a parallel branch. The primary court's ruling against Zanjani and the other two defendants was announced last Esfand (March) and included not only the death penalty but also the restitution of funds to the National Iranian Oil Company and a fine equivalent to one-fourth of the money laundering amount. However, last week, the Mehr news agency quoted an 'informed source' stating that the Supreme Court had revoked Zanjani's death sentence, a claim that Iranian judicial sources immediately denied, stating that the ruling had not yet been issued. Babak Zanjani, who was responsible for selling Iranian oil during Ahmadinejad's presidency and at the height of sanctions related to the nuclear program, is accused of failing to return approximately 2.5 billion euros from oil sales to the government. He was arrested following protests from the government of Hassan Rouhani in December 2013. The issuance of Zanjani's death sentence, while he has not yet returned the oil sale money, has drawn criticism from the Iranian government, with the Minister of Justice stating that 'Zanjani's execution will not bring back the money.' The Minister of Oil has also emphasized that the ministry does not wish for him to be executed, as his execution would mean the 'black box' of his case would also be 'lost.'