Iran Sentences Four To Death Over Banking Scandal

Iranian state media say a Tehran court has sentenced four people to death over their roles in the country's biggest-ever banking scandal.

The fraud case, discovered last September, centered around forged documents allegedly used by the directors of an Iranian investment company to secure loans totaling $2.6 billion to buy state-owned enterprises.

The IRNA state news agency reports that the sentences came at the end of the trial of 39 suspects beginning in February.

The agency quoted national chief prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie as saying two other suspects were sentenced to life in prison while the remaining received jail sentences of 25 years or less after also being found guilty of corruption.

The identities of those convicted were not made public.

They now have 20 days to lodge any appeal.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP