Iran judiciary detains President Rouhani's brother in corruption case

[Doug the Dem]

Source: Reuters

July 16, 2017 / 9:40 AM

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian authorities have detained President Hassan Rouhani's brother, the judiciary spokesman said on Sunday, in a corruption case that the president's supporters say is politically motivated.

State television quoted spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei as saying Hossein Fereydoun, who is also a close adviser to Rouhani, was summoned for questioning on Saturday in a case in which he faces unspecified financial charges. He was later detained.

"If Fereydoun arranges bail, he will be released," Mohseni Ejei was quoted as saying. "He has been heard several times, and others have also been questioned, and some of them are being held ... and the case continues."

Some Rouhani supporters have interpreted the charges against Fereydoun, a senior diplomat who took part in the talks that led to a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, as a move by the hardline judiciary to discredit the president.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-rouhani-brother-idUSKBN1A10KK?il=0

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This.....could end up ending up very, very badly.

[Nitram]

1. Hostage-taking is standard practice in tribal disagreements.

Gives the hostage-taker leverage over the hostage's family.

[Doug the Dem]

2. Now THIS IS A NEWS STORY, One with Potentially-Dire Consequences!

Kick & Update:

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The brother and close advisor of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was transferred to hospital on his second day of detention, according to reports on Iranian news sites.

Hossein Fereydoun was summoned for questioning on Saturday in a corruption case in which he faces unspecified charges. He was later detained when he could not post bail, which was set at more than 15 million dollars, according to Fars News.

The Mehr news site later reported a representative had posted bail on Fereydoun's behalf on Monday evening so he would not need to return to prison from hospital. The site did not specify the amount of the bail posted.

Fereydoun is a senior diplomat who took part in the talks that led to a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. Some Rouhani supporters have interpreted the charges against him as a move by the hard-line judiciary to discredit the president.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-politics-rouhani-brother-idUSKBN1A21NK?il=0