Judiciary Chief Assures Protection for Reporters of Corruption
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran’s Judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi said Monday the entire judicial system will back those people who report corruption cases and directives have been issued to various sections of the Judiciary to this effect.
He said Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has ordered the Judiciary to support reports of corruption and the prevention of vice.
"The judicial system will provide legal support for those who report administrative and economic corruption, and will not allow anybody to persecute them,” Raisi said.
Speaking via a video-conference with officials of Iran’s Judiciary on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the battle against corruption should continue relentlessly.
"The fight against corruption, which has reached its peak in this period, should strongly continue without negligence and on the basis of rights, justice and law, with no encroachment and oppression of innocent people,” the Leader said.
The Leader’s remarks came after the Iranian Judiciary chief ordered the serious pursuit of financial corruption suspects who have fled the country, warning that they will not be spared prosecution no matter where they have run to.
The directive advised "those who are subject to accusations to surrender themselves to justice, and know this that they will not be able to escape the grasp of justice”.
Romania Uncooperative
The spokesman of Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday said Romania has not provided sufficient information on the death of a fugitive judge who died in mysterious circumstances in Bucharest this month.
Abbas Mousavi said there are "ambiguities” surrounding Judge Gholamreza Mansouri’s death and Romania has not responded to Iran’s requests for "transparency” yet.
"The Romanian government needs to officially notify the Islamic Republic of any incident that has happened,” Mousavi said.
"Given the sensitivity and complexity of the case, we urge the Romanian government to keep us informed,” he added.
Mansouri who was implicated in a major corruption case in Iran fled the country last year took refuge in Germany before settling in Romania. Police briefly arrested him on June 12 apparently on an Interpol request, but a court in Bucharest postponed his extradition and released him.
Mansouri was staying in a hotel waiting for another court hearing when he was claimed to have fallen from the upper floor in mysterious and yet not explained circumstances. Romanian authorities confirmed the immediate cause of death but are continuing their investigation to see if it was suicide, accident or murder.
Iranian officials have criticized Romania for its handling of the case and lack of cooperation with the Islamic Republic. Mousavi said Iran’s foreign ministry has received no new information except what the media have published.
He said Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has ordered the Judiciary to support reports of corruption and the prevention of vice.
"The judicial system will provide legal support for those who report administrative and economic corruption, and will not allow anybody to persecute them,” Raisi said.
Speaking via a video-conference with officials of Iran’s Judiciary on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the battle against corruption should continue relentlessly.
"The fight against corruption, which has reached its peak in this period, should strongly continue without negligence and on the basis of rights, justice and law, with no encroachment and oppression of innocent people,” the Leader said.
The Leader’s remarks came after the Iranian Judiciary chief ordered the serious pursuit of financial corruption suspects who have fled the country, warning that they will not be spared prosecution no matter where they have run to.
The directive advised "those who are subject to accusations to surrender themselves to justice, and know this that they will not be able to escape the grasp of justice”.
Romania Uncooperative
The spokesman of Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday said Romania has not provided sufficient information on the death of a fugitive judge who died in mysterious circumstances in Bucharest this month.
Abbas Mousavi said there are "ambiguities” surrounding Judge Gholamreza Mansouri’s death and Romania has not responded to Iran’s requests for "transparency” yet.
"The Romanian government needs to officially notify the Islamic Republic of any incident that has happened,” Mousavi said.
"Given the sensitivity and complexity of the case, we urge the Romanian government to keep us informed,” he added.
Mansouri who was implicated in a major corruption case in Iran fled the country last year took refuge in Germany before settling in Romania. Police briefly arrested him on June 12 apparently on an Interpol request, but a court in Bucharest postponed his extradition and released him.
Mansouri was staying in a hotel waiting for another court hearing when he was claimed to have fallen from the upper floor in mysterious and yet not explained circumstances. Romanian authorities confirmed the immediate cause of death but are continuing their investigation to see if it was suicide, accident or murder.
Iranian officials have criticized Romania for its handling of the case and lack of cooperation with the Islamic Republic. Mousavi said Iran’s foreign ministry has received no new information except what the media have published.