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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Ex-Iran Nuke Negotiator Acquitted of Espionage |
| 2007-12-03 |
| A judiciary spokesperson was telling reporters that Hossein Mousavian "Â… had been acquitted of spying and keeping financial documents, but was convicted of engaging in propaganda against the regime. Judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi told reporters, "There were three charges against Mousavian: Spying, keeping classified documents and propagating against the state. He was found not guilty of the first two but found guilty of engaging in propaganda against the state.." Mousavian received a suspended sentence for the third charge against him. However, Jamshidi noted, "He may face a criminal sentence if the prosecutor objects to the court's decision." Jamshidi added, "When a case reaches this stage, it must be approved by the prosecutor, who has the right to object. If he is in agreement [with the court's decision], it is over; if not, the case is sent back to court with the prosecutor's objections." Exactly one hour into the announcement of Mousavian's acquittal, hardliner Fars News Agency, affiliated with the security and intelligence establishment in Iran, quoted an "informed judiciary official" as saying, "the prosecutor can object to the judge's handling of this case." The involvement of Ahmadinejad and his administration in this case has angered many prominent figures in the conservative faction. In the latest reaction, Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri, senior advisor to the supreme leader Ali Khamenei, announced that "accusations brought against Mousavian are not true." Ahmadinejad and other government officials have referred to Mousavian as "A treacherous element" and "enemy agent" on several occasions. Last week, Ahmadinejad told reporters, "After we arrested an individual on spying charges, they put extreme pressures on the judge to acquit the spy. But I announce right here that the Iranian people will now allow individuals and groups to use their political and economic influence to save criminals from justice." Given such remarks, analysts believe that Mousavian's acquittal is an embarrassing defeat for AhmadinejadÂ’s administration. |
| Posted by:Pappy |