Araz news via trend: Iran’s former vice president, Hamid Baghaei was arrested, the Islamic Republic Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei said during a press conference in Tehran.

Baghaei was summoned to the court a few hours ago and now he is under arrest, Mohseni Ejei said, Iran’s official IRIB news reported June 8.

He refused to disclose further details on the issue.

Baghaei served as vice president for Executive Affairs during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency (2005–2013).

In 2011, a court banned Baghaei, who is one of Ahmadinejad’s closest confidants, from working for the government for four years. Baghaei was previously convicted of various legal violations committed when he was the head of the Organization for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, but he ignored that verdict.

Former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi who was convicted to over five years in jail was transferred to the Evin Prison last February to serve his term.

He was charged with embezzlement from Iran Insurance Company.

By Umid Niayesh

Reprinted from trend.az