Zanjani's Account of Seized Gold Shipment: 'Gold Was Replaced with Lead'

Babak Zanjani provided explanations regarding his role in the transfer of a 1500-kilogram gold shipment that was seized in Turkey's customs in 2012, accusing the individuals involved in the transfer, including 'two agents' and a person named 'A', of replacing the gold with lead. Abolqasem Salavati, the judge in Zanjani's trial, accused him on Tuesday, December 2, during the fourteenth session of the court, of transferring 445 million euros through Sarmayeh and Parsian banks to Reza Zarrab's account in Turkey and giving him a 12 million euro 'commission'. According to IRNA news agency, Zanjani responded to this accusation by stating that the Central Bank deposited this money into Parsian and Sarmayeh banks and asked Parsian Bank to transfer it to 'Halk Bank' in Turkey. He added, 'Parsian Bank charged a fee for transferring the money to Halk Bank, and therefore the amount going to Halk Bank was reduced, indicating that Zarrab did not receive that much commission.' Previously, Turkish media reported that Zarrab played a role in the illegal transfer of about 35 billion euros from Iran to Turkey. According to Hurriyet newspaper, Zarrab was interrogated by police during the seizure of a gold shipment that was supposed to be transferred to Iran for Zanjani's company, Sorinet. Turkish media had reported in 2012 that a cargo plane with one and a half tons of gold was seized at Istanbul Airport, which was en route from Ghana to Iran. On Tuesday, during the fourteenth session of Zanjani's trial, the judge asked him, 'You bought 1500 kilograms of gold from Mr. A in Africa; where is this gold now?' According to ISNA news agency, Zanjani replied, 'I did not buy anything; Mr. A is a fraudster who was arrested at my complaint along with Mr. M.' He added, 'These gentlemen claimed they had gold in Africa, and I told them to make a contract to bring the gold to Iran. In this regard, I spoke with the Central Bank's president, and it was agreed that the gold would come to Iran to resolve some issues.' Zanjani mentioned that Mr. A, along with 'two agents' and a representative from his side, traveled to Africa: 'The gold was loaded, and the plane landed in Istanbul. The cargo was supposed to be transferred to Iran, but unfortunately, these gentlemen transmitted information to the Istanbul police, claiming there was a smuggled shipment on the plane. The Istanbul police seized the plane and requested the documents related to the cargo from us.' Zanjani stated, 'In the documents they provided to us, it was written that these goods were artificial. When we asked them what this meant, they replied that they wrote this so that customs would charge us less.' He added, 'Ultimately, the cargo was transferred from Istanbul to Dubai, where Mr. M, the owner of the cargo, and our friends who went to clear the cargo saw that glitter spray was applied to the bars, but these gentlemen did not accept this and claimed we moved the gold.' Zanjani's statements come as Fars news agency reported in 2013 that he had sent three of his employees named 'H Y', 'B Z', and 'V M M' to Ghana to buy gold.