Judicial chief warns media to lighten corruption coverage

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The head of Iran’s judiciary says media outlets that “exaggerate” corruption charges will be investigated for illegal activities. ISNA reports that Ayatollah Amoli Larijani announced on Sunday October 12: “It is not fair for newspapers to start publishing names and condemnatory allegations before the file even reaches court.”

In recent weeks, the papers have been publishing reports regarding the investigation of public officials in relation to corruption cases.

Despite the head of the judiciary’s statement, his first deputy Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei announced last Monday that three former ministers and the head of the Central Bank during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are under investigation for links to the Babak Zanjani case. Babak Zanjani is the Iranian tycoon who has been arrested for having billions of dollars in unpaid debt to the oil ministry.

The head of judiciary stressed that all such media violations and any overt focus on corruption cases will be monitored by Tehran Prosecutor and violators will face prosecution.

Radio Zamaneh