Shabnam Nematzadeh, Daughter of Former Industry Minister, Arrested on Corruption Charges in Drug Sector
Iranian media outlets report the arrest of “Shabnam Nematzadeh,” daughter of the former minister of industry, mines and trade.
Several Iranian media outlets confirmed on Sunday, September 8, the arrest of “Shabnam Nematzadeh” and reported that she was transferred to prison after her bail was converted to a temporary detention order.
The charges against the daughter of Iran’s former industry, mines and trade minister have been announced as “drug monopoly and extortion through illegal means.”
According to these reports, Shabnam Nematzadeh, along with an individual named “Lashgari Pour” and a company called “Drug Development,” are under suspicion.
Last year in Mordad (August), news was released about the discovery of a warehouse in Alborz Province containing hoarded drugs worth five billion tomans, with some attributing it to Nematzadeh’s daughter, the former minister of industry, mines and trade.
Some Iranian media outlets reported in Mordad 1397 (August 2018) about the warehouses of this pharmaceutical company belonging to her and her debts to other companies, stating that Shabnam Nematzadeh “started establishing her companies after working in pharmacies for several years, beginning from 1388 (2009 onwards), and now claims to own several companies.”
This is not the first time “Shabnam Nematzadeh’s” name has made headlines. In Ordibehesht of this year, the story of “Shabnam Nematzadeh’s villa demolition,” which had been built illegally in Lavasan, sparked controversy.
Also, in 1395 (2016), Ahmad Tavakoli wrote a letter to Ishaq Jahangiri, the first vice president under Hassan Rouhani, regarding Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Rouhani’s minister of industry and mines at the time, and also mentioned the former minister’s daughters.
In this letter, Tavakoli wrote that Nematzadeh’s wife and daughters, Shabnam and Zeinab, “are currently CEOs, presidents, vice presidents, board members, or auditors in 10 companies. Do these ladies also have 40 years of experience?! Ask Mr. Nematzadeh why the UAE police are pursuing Sahar Nematzadeh?”
Concurrent with the investigation of economic corruption cases in Iran, systematic corruption in the Islamic Republic has become more apparent in recent months.
Recently, news emerged of the arrest of “Ammar Salehi,” son of a former army commander, in a corruption case known as the “Jahanbani Group.”
Previously, Hadi Razavi, the son-in-law of Mohammad Shariatmadari, Iran’s labor minister, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, confiscation of assets, 74 lashes, and deprivation of government services in the Capital Bank case on charges of “major disruption to the economic system.”
The United States has repeatedly condemned institutionalized financial corruption and the plundering of Iran’s natural resources by regime affiliates, considering them among the primary causes of Iran’s economic and financial problems.
Previously, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, tweeted about Islamic Republic officials, saying they are engaged in corruption instead of helping the people.
Source: Voice of America
