Convicted Officials Roam Free in Iran Despite Sentences

Following claims by the judicial institutions of the Islamic Republic regarding convicts in "economic corruption" cases, a recent development has drawn attention.

After the death of Ebrahim Raisi, a photograph of Javad Sa'adati Nejad, the resigned minister from Raisi's administration, attending Raisi's mourning ceremony emerged.

This image serves as proof of Sa'adati Nejad's freedom, despite his conviction—a point previously highlighted by IranWire, which published judicial documents revealing that several convicts roam freely in the city.

In March, the Rouydad24 website published a report accusing Javad Sadatinejad of expanding the scope of corruption during his 20 months in office, stating he was involved in a corruption scandal worth 1,100 billion tomans related to imports.

Ebrahim Raisi dismissed him from his position in April last year, subsequently appointing Mohammad Ali Nikbakht as the Minister of Agricultural Jihad in his place.

These free individuals have often avoided punishment through various means, escaping accountability for their actions.

In all these cases, the influence of Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judicial system and former deputy of the body, is evident.

Despite claims of combating economic corruption, Ejei and those around him seem to fail when it comes to handling cases involving relationships, allowing convicts to remain free while political prisoners face severe pressure.

Javad Sa'adati Nejad, the former Minister of Agriculture, remains free despite two significant cases of economic corruption, including the Debsh Tea case, the largest economic corruption case in Iran's history.

The photograph of Sa'adati Nejad at Raisi's seventh-night ceremony substantiates his freedom.

Two weeks before this photo surfaced, Ejei announced that Sa'adati Nejad had been sentenced to three years in prison.

Another case against Sadati Nejad involves the "importation of livestock products," both occurring during Ebrahim Raisi's administration.

Last year, reports of Sa'adati Nejad's imprisonment surfaced in the media, which he denied in a video, suggesting that such news was politically motivated due to upcoming elections.

Sa'adati Nejad was referring to the parliamentary elections, in which he was a candidate and was approved by the Guardian Council despite his corruption cases.

When Ejei mentioned Sa'adati Nejad's conviction, he noted a request to apply Article 477 of the Criminal Procedure Code for the "fake importation of livestock products" case.

However, Sa'adati Nejad remains free despite another open case involving the embezzlement of billions of dollars in the Debsh Tea case, where he is the main defendant.

Over the past months, IranWire has reported on several prominent figures in economic corruption who should be imprisoned but are not.

Hashem Yekehzareh, the former CEO of Iran Khodro, has not received a sentence.

Parviz Kazemi, chairman of the board of Sarmayeh Bank, was sentenced to a total of 32 years in prison but remains free.

Hamidreza Renoud, sentenced to over 30 years, is also not in prison.

Additionally, the Rozchang brothers were granted leave and fled Iran despite their convictions.