An Iranian court sentenced the son of Iran’s former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to 15 years in prison on charges of bribery and embezzlement, local media outlets reported yesterday.
In 2004, a Norwegian court convicted Hashemi, 46, of receiving a $15 million bribe from the Norwegian oil firm Statoil to use his influence to secure lucrative contracts for the company.
Mehdi was also sentenced to pay an undisclosed fine and was banned from exercising public responsibilities.
Mehdi has the right of appeal within 20 days.