Six Sardasht City Council Members Face Bribery Charges

Iranian authorities have charged six members of the northwestern Sardasht city council for accepting bribes totaling $32,000.

In April, an investigation had began into bribery allegations involving nine individuals in Sardasht, including six city council members, according to the ISNA news agency.

Following judicial inquiries, the suspects were arrested on charges of bribery and corruption.

The Chief Justice of West Azerbaijan province, Naser Atabati, revealed that preliminary investigations by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Sardasht Revolutionary Court found that the six council members had collectively received $32,000 in bribes from the other three defendants. 

The Chief Justice said that the case has now been referred to two criminal courts with formal indictments issued. 

He said that the accused council members have been suspended from their positions by law, effective from the date of the indictment.