Head of Forests Organization Arrested on Bribery Charges
Continuing the arrest of government officials on financial charges in Iran, media outlets reported the detention of the head of Iran’s Forests Organization.
The ISNA news agency reported on Monday, October 27, that Khalil Aghai, head of the Forests Organization, has been arrested on bribery charges by the Government Employees’ Prosecutor’s Office.
Earlier, the public relations office of the Forests Organization denied Aghai’s arrest and stated that the matter for which Aghai “had been summoned was unrelated to the Forests Organization.”
Khalil Aghai had been appointed as head of the Organization of Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Management of Iran by order of the Minister of Agriculture Jihad since December 2017.
Aghai’s confrontation in the open session of parliament in 2016 had also caused controversy. Aghai began shouting during Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtari’s speech, the representative of Bahar and Kabodarahang, and tore his shirt collar.
In recent months, several government officials have been arrested on charges of financial corruption or bribery. These include members of the Sadra Shiraz City Council and the arrest of the CEO of Iran Khodro.
The United States has repeatedly condemned institutionalized financial corruption and the plundering of Iran’s God-given wealth by affiliates of the ruling regime in this country, considering them among the main factors of Iran’s economic and financial problems. For example, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently said in several tweets about Islamic Republic officials that instead of helping the people, they have engaged in corruption.
Source: Voice of America
