TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s judiciary said Tuesday that it commuted a death sentence for a tycoon to 20 years in prison after he returned around $2.1 billion in assets from illegally selling oil abroad, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Babak Zanjani, 48, was sentenced to death in 2016 over a number of charges, including money laundering, forgery and fraud that disrupted the country’s economy.
IRNA quoted judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying that an appeal for amnesty by Zanjani was reviewed and his death sentence was “commuted to a 20-year prison term after approval by the Supreme Leader.“ Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on all state matters and occasionally issues pardons.
Jahangir said as part of Zanjani’s 2016 sentence, he had the right to an amnesty or commutation of his death sentence if he returned the assets, compensated for damages and expressed regret for wrongdoing. The spokesman said that Zanjani cooperated with the judiciary to locate the assets abroad in recent years while he was in prison, and all the money was returned.
Trump accepts a VP debate but wants it on Fox News. Harris has already said yes to CBS
A reset at running back might look different for the Cowboys 8 years after drafting Ezekiel Elliott
Vikings have the 11th and 23rd picks in the NFL draft and a need for a QB. Can they get their guy?
Irina Shayk the sizzling supermodel rocks saucy triple
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
Georgia governor signs income tax cuts as property tax measure heads to November ballot
Early Solomon Islands election results show shakeup in most populous province — Radio Free Asia
Sheetz convenience store chain hit with discrimination lawsuit
Alleged homicide suspect fatally shot by police in San Francisco Bay Area
French sports minister calls for sanctions after Monaco player tapes over anti
Tennessee lawmakers approve $52.8B spending plan as hopes of school voucher agreement flounder