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Iranian Intelligence Officials Embezzled Crypto During Fraud Probe
A shocking revelation has emerged from a court case involving Cryptoland, a digital exchange that was shut down in 2021. Senior officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence organization have been accused of embezzling approximately $21 million worth of cryptocurrency while investigating fraud at the exchange.
According to reports, Mehdi Hajipour and Mehdi Badi, two senior IRGC interrogators, were responsible for the heist. The duo allegedly stole BRG tokens from Cryptoland’s CEO, Jack Dorsey’s first tweet as a non-fungible token (NFT), which was bought by Estavi in 2021.
The documents reveal that Hajipour and Badi forged documents to legitimize the transactions, using their positions within the IRGC intelligence organization to cover up the crime. This network of corruption has far-reaching implications for the integrity of Iran’s financial system.
Estavi, who had previously gained international attention by purchasing Dorsey’s NFT for $2.9 million, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, fines, and a lifetime ban from public service. Despite a travel ban, he managed to flee the country, with a video later surfacing showing him in France.
The scandal has led to calls for greater transparency and accountability within Iran’s financial institutions.
Source: https://blockonomi.com/iranian-intelligence-officials-embezzled-crypto-during-fraud-probe/
