Corpun file 8252 at www.corpun.com

IRNA News Agency, 13 November 1995

Supreme Court confirms verdicts of Bank Saderat embezzlers

Tehran, Nov. 13, IRNA-- The Supreme Court of Iran confirmed the verdicts issued at branch 40 of general court in Tehran against people convicted for huge embezzlement in Bank Saderat of Iran.

According to judiciary sources, the confirmed verdicts on the embezzlement of Rls. 1,230 billion has been referred to Tehran provincial court for the execution of the sentences.

The first degree embezzler, Fazel Khodadad, has been sentenced to death on account of plundering several billion rials from bank deposits and being an accomplice in illegal gangs and illegitimate association. Further he has been penalized to the restitution of his debt to the bank and the flogging of 149 lashes.

The second in row, Morteza Rafighdoost, is condemned to life imprisonment, full restitution of his debt to the bank and heavy fine.

The third convict, ex-clerk of Saderat Bank, Abu Taleb Ebrahimi, is sentenced to life imprisonment, 30 lashes and permanent suspension from holding government posts.

The fourth convict, head of the branch 207 Bank Saderat, Ebrahim Aria, is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, 30 lashes and permanent suspension from government posts.

The fifth convict, deputy head of the branch, Jamshid Arghand, is sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, 30 lashes and permanent suspension from holding government posts.

The three other convicts, Seyyed Mohammad Sa'eed Majidi Tehrani, Rahim Bakhtiari and Khosrow Vaseqi are sentenced to the payment of heavy fine.

The twelfth convict, Ms. M.H., convicted of illegal relation with Fazel Khodadad, is condemned to 99 lashes and also sentenced to a two-year probation term.--hm/dh-49