Corruption case sets new record in Iran
A scandal involving the importation of tea and machinery for the tea industry has established a new monetary record for a corruption case in Iran.
Local media reports indicated that over $3.37bn had been siphoned from the subsidised foreign currency provided by the government to the Debsh Tea company.
In Iran, the government offers subsidised foreign currency to import medicines and essential goods, but only well-connected individuals can access these resources.
This case once again spotlighted the systematic corruption pervading the economy amid the government’s new initiatives to raise taxes and restrict resources available for social support to vulnerable sectors of society.
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“If this substantial sum of money were circulating in the economy, many families dependent on government assistance could better organise their lives,” said the Arman Meli daily on Tuesday.
While the government denies any involvement in the scandal, reformist outlets and politicians suggest that such enormous corruption could not have occurred without the participation of some officials.
Abbas Abdi, a prominent political figure, accused the government of being responsible, saying, “It is not believable that this has happened without high-ranking people in power being aware of it.”
Opposition figures also expressed their rage, demanding that the judicial system bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The existence of an organised corruption system is evident in this case,” Khabar Online quoted lawmaker Ahmad Alireza Beigi from the city of Tabriz.
“Wherever there is favouritism and lack of control, corruption will happen, regardless of which government is in power.”
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