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DEATH SENTENCE FOR IRANIAN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE FOR ISRAEL
June 30, 2008: an Iranian charged with espionage for
Israel was sentenced to death. An
unnamed official of the intelligence service told
Fars
news agency that Ali Ashtari was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court
for spying for the 'Zionist regime.'
The
official said the sentence still had to be confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Ashtari
could also still appeal the verdict.
The last
court sitting for Ashtari was held when he replied to the charges. His lawyer
was allowed to give a closing speech. The revolutionary court presented tools
put at the disposal of the accused by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad
for the purpose of spying on
Iran.
Fars
news agency quoted Ashtari as confessing to his espionage activities and
begging for mercy.
Ashtari said that he was arrested 18 months ago by
intelligence agents for having given telecommunication data to the Israelis. He
was the owner of a company that imported security equipment into
Iran with a branch office in
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates,
where he was apparently approached by the Mossad agents who, under the pretext
of business cooperation, sought telecommunication information. Ashtari
reportedly met the three agents 13 times and received 50,000 dollars from them. (Sources: Monsters & Critics, 30/06/2008)
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