Iran commutes billionaire Babak Zanjani's death sentence - BBC News

Businessman Babak Zanjani was convicted in 2016 of pocketing billions from Iran's oil ministry.

21 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPAImage caption, Mr Zanjani (centre) was pictured arriving for his trial in Tehran in 2015By Vicky WongBBC NewsAn Iranian billionaire convicted of stealing nearly three billion dollars has had his death sentence commuted to a 20-year jail term.

Babak Zanjani was convicted in 2016 of pocketing money from the oil ministry to circumvent US sanctions on Iran.

He said he had been unable to hand over the cash because of sanctions on him.

The news comes after Iran's judiciary said Mr Zanjani had agreed to work with authorities and his overseas assets had been transferred to Iran.

The announcement was made by a spokesperson for Iran's judiciary, Asghar Jahangir, on Tuesday, according to the judiciary-run Mizan News Agency.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68884549

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