Zanjani's Lawyer: My Client's Associates Refuse to Return Assets After Death Sentence

The lawyer of Babak Zanjani states that there has been "no significant development" regarding his client's debts to the National Iranian Oil Company, and that the "trustees" of Mr. Zanjani's assets abroad are unwilling to return them following the announcement of his death sentence. According to Fars News Agency, on Saturday, April 14, Rasoul Koohpayehzadeh said that "some associates and trustees" of Babak Zanjani, who held his assets and money abroad, have become greedy after hearing the court's ruling, which has slowed the transfer of funds. He emphasized, without providing details, that "some want" Babak Zanjani to "never escape his current situation," and for this reason, they are not cooperating in settling his debts. Zanjani's lawyer expressed hope that a change in his client's ruling by the Supreme Court would "eliminate the ground for opportunists to thrive." During the trial, Mr. Zanjani repeatedly stated that he would repay his debts to the National Iranian Oil Company. However, officials from the Oil Ministry have described these promises as "propaganda exploitation, wasting time, and prolonging the proceedings," and have announced that he has taken no action to repay his debts. Various reports have been published regarding Babak Zanjani's assets abroad. On November 10, 2015, during his seventh court session, Mr. Zanjani claimed to have "22 billion euros in cash" abroad. However, the next day, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, the Minister of Justice, and Valiollah Seif, the head of the Central Bank, called this statement a "big lie." In early April, Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-Turkish businessman reportedly associated with Babak Zanjani, was arrested in Florida, USA, on charges of facilitating hundreds of millions of dollars to help circumvent US sanctions against the Iranian government and other entities. Meanwhile, according to the Entekhab website, Amir Abbas Soltani, a member of the parliamentary committee following Babak Zanjani's case, stated that "a large amount of Zanjani's money and assets are in the hands of Reza Zarrab." According to Mr. Soltani, Babak Zanjani's assets are estimated to be "five billion dollars." Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, said in an interview with Mehr News Agency on Tuesday, April 9, that if Babak Zanjani repays his debts, it "will definitely not be without effect on his ruling," but according to "case officials," he "has not cooperated sufficiently." The Minister of Justice also stated on March 8, 2016, that "Babak Zanjani's cooperation is influential in his ruling." Babak Zanjani has been accused in the prosecutor's indictment of having paid only "160 million euros" of the 2.7 billion euros he was obligated to pay to the oil company, spending the rest on personal matters. Mr. Zanjani and two other defendants in this case have been sentenced to death, ordered to repay debts to the National Iranian Oil Company, and fined. Meanwhile, Mr. Zanjani's lawyer stated that the 230-page ruling of his client’s court is set to be delivered on Tuesday, April 16, and there is a possibility to appeal within 20 days of the ruling's delivery. The investigation into Babak Zanjani's charges began on Saturday, October 3, 2015, in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, and he was tried in 26 sessions. According to reports, Mr. Zanjani owned dozens of economic and financial companies and institutions inside and outside Iran, which helped the Islamic Republic circumvent international sanctions during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency. Babak Zanjani was ultimately arrested in December 2013.