Iran’s General Prosecutor Mohammad Jaffar Montazeri call on his Romanian counterpart to “quickly and seriously” launch an investigation into the death of a fugitive Iranian judge.
Gholamreza Mansouri was confirmed dead after falling out of a window in the Duke Hotel in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday.
The Romanian police announced that they had launched an investigation into the incident, but no new details had been revealed in the case.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry delivered the letter to the Romanian Ambassador in Tehran, requesting an investigation into the circumstances of the accident and the retrieval of Mansouri's body to Iran.
In his letter, Montazeri explained that the fugitive was wanted by Iran’s Judiciary, which pursued his case through Interpol and got him arrested. He called upon Romania to commit to international obligations of handing fugitives involved in corruption cases.
The Iranian judicial top official also urged his Romanian counterpart to pursue any person involved in Mansouri's death.
Montazeri ruled out the possibility of suicide, saying that the circumstances of the case are “unknown and suspicious.” However, deputy head of judiciary Ali Bagheri Kani suggested the Iranian judge might have committed suicide.
Mansouri was one of the suspects in the largest corruption case in the country accusing senior officials in the Iranian judiciary of accepting bribes and misusing power.
He previously denied all charges accusing him of taking more than €500,000 in bribes. He also denied he is on the run, saying he is abroad to receive medical treatment and will be returning to Iran soon.
On June 12, Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili confirmed that the Interpol had arrested Mansouri in Romania, but he could not be extradited yet due to the new coronavirus restrictions.
Esmaili indicated Mansouri’s promise to return was not “serious,” which is why Iran notified the Interpol.
Soon after Mansouri’s location was disclosed, human rights activists and journalists moved to prevent the judge from being deported to Tehran, due to his responsibility in charges against dozens of journalists
The German chapter of Reporters without Borders (RSF) submitted a request to the German Public Prosecution in this regard. Later, RSF announced it regretted that the Romanian and German authorities did not immediately arrest Mansouri when it filed complaints against him, as this would have prevented his sudden death.
Mansouri's family denies reports that he committed suicide, while the Romanian authorities have not yet announced the results of its investigation.
Meanwhile, Iranian media continued to report Mansouri’s case on its front pages, which has now become a public opinion case in the country.
