Hamid Baqaei Arrested to Serve 15-Year Sentence

Hamid Baqaei, vice president during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration, has been arrested to serve his sentence following the finalization of the court’s verdict.

Baqaei’s lawyer announced on Tuesday, March 13, that his client was arrested even though the court of appeals verdict has not yet been officially delivered to him.

Shortly before his arrest, the chief justice of Tehran Province announced that the court of appeals issued a final verdict in Baqaei’s case, sentencing him to 15 years imprisonment, asset confiscation, a fine, and flogging.

He is the second vice president under Ahmadinejad to receive a final prison sentence. Previously, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Ahmadinejad’s first vice president, was also convicted and sentenced to prison on charges of financial corruption.

The “U.S. intelligence community” predicted last week that escalating tensions between moderate and hardline politicians in Iran would increase.

According to the report, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who is closer to hardliners within the government, has faced health problems.

American intelligence agencies predicted that he would oppose social and political openings.

A spokesman for Iran’s judiciary previously announced Baqaei’s charges as unauthorized appropriation, embezzlement, and collusion in state transactions. However, Baqaei denied the charges and described his case as politically motivated.

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, following the filing of charges and the intensification of judicial proceedings, accused the judiciary of politicization and inefficiency, writing in a letter that most people are dissatisfied with the judiciary and its chief. He also sarcastically wrote that Ayatollah Khamenei is not accountable for judicial actions. In another letter, he called for early elections.

Source: Voice of America