Death Sentence of Another Defendant in ‘Economic Corruption’ Case Confirmed in Iran

The death sentence of “Hamid Bagheri Darmani,” one of the defendants in recent economic cases in Iran, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of the country.

Iranian media reported, citing Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje’i, spokesman for Iran’s judicial system, that the death sentence of Hamid Bagheri Darmani, one of the convicts in economic cases in Iran, has been confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Hamid Bagheri Darmani is the primary defendant in the “economic corruption” case, charged with corruption on earth through fraud. His case was heard publicly in 9 sessions in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court.

Previously, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, lawyer for Bagheri Darmani, had told Iran’s state news agency that his client’s case is being treated like recent economic disruptors despite the fact that his client has been in prison since 2014 and has no connection whatsoever to recent incidents.

However, Mohseni Eje’i told reporters that the reason for Bagheri Darmani’s charges and his fraud cases was related to previous years, and this case was not handled in a special branch because it was not based on Article 286 of the Bribery and Economic Disruption Law, but was tried in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court based on Article 4 of the Law on Enhancement of Punishment and Bribery.

The death sentence for this defendant on the charge of “corruption on earth” has been upheld at a time when experts believe corruption in Iran is more widespread than courts can possibly address.

Iran has one of the highest execution rates in the world and has previously tried and executed merchants and former officials accused of corruption.

In the most recent of these executions, in November of this year, death sentences for Vahid Mazloum-Nia (Sultan Coin) and Mohammad Ismail Qasemi, defendants in the “disruption of the economic system” case in Iran, were carried out despite legal rights concerns about their sentences.

Human rights organizations say these death sentence cases have not followed normal procedures and accuse judicial authorities of politicization. In recent months, coinciding with American sanctions, widespread protests have taken place in Iran. Critics of the government say Islamic Republic authorities are trying to ease pressure by executing some “big fish.”

Source: Voice of America