Iran President’s brother arrested
Tehran, July 16: Iran’s judiciary on Sunday announced the arrest of President Hassan Rouhani’s brother Hossein Fereydoun on financial crime charges, in a long-running feud between two of the country’s centres of power.
“Multiple investigations have been conducted regarding this person, also other people have been investigated, some of whom are in jail,” deputy judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie said in a televised press conference.
“Yesterday, bail was issued for him but because he failed to secure it he was referred to prison,” Ejeie said.
“If he secures bail, he will be released. But the case will take its course.”
The conservative-dominated judiciary has clashed with Mr Rouhani, who has sought to ease social restrictions and release political prisoners.
News of the arrest comes a year after the head of the General Inspection Organisation, Naser Seraj, first accused mr Fereydoun, who acts as a key adviser and gatekeeper to Mr Rouhani, of financial violations.
The brothers do not share the same name because Rouhani changed his when he was younger to a word meaning “cleric”. Conservatives have demanded that Mr Fereydoun be put on trial, accusing him of receiving zero-interest loans and influencing the appointment of two bank directors. One of the bank directors was later accused of involvement in a “large corruption scandal”.