Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Eje’i said 29 people have been detained for suspected malpractice and disrupting the economic process and will be put on trial soon.
“Many of those arrested have been charged with [the capital crime of] corruption on earth,” Mohseni Eje’I said without disclosing the names and offenses of the detainees.
The cleric reiterated that the men were arrested for economic crimes. “More people will be in the dock soon on similar charges,” Fars News Agency quoted him as saying.
“These people were arrested for disrupting the country’s monetary and currency system,” Mohseni Eje’i added.
Over the past months the price of gold and hard currencies have gone through the roof and reached levels unseen in Iranian history. By extension, the disturbing pattern has adversely affected the prices of food, dairy products, home and electric appliances creating in its wake deep discontent and indignation among the public at large.
The national currency plunged to a record low against the US dollar in the unofficial market and changed hands at 110,000 rials on Monday.
Gold coin prices also hit new highs Sunday reaching 45 million rials.
Forex rates jumped soon after the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May and announced plans for a fresh wave of economic sanctions to further pressure and intimidate the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, the government move to introduce a new subsidized rate for foreign currencies led to some speculators reaping windfalls and creating immense uncertainty and instability in the market.
Last month the judiciary chief, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, lashed out at those who are “disrupting the economy” by hoarding foreign currency and gold. He said they would face “severe punishment” if they are found guilty of “corruption on the earth”.
