Iran billionaire tycoon Zanjani sentenced to death for corruption

Iranian tycoon Babak Zanjani was convicted of fraud and economic crimes over oil sales during the long period of economic sanctions against Tehran

Tehran (AFP) - Iran's billionaire tycoon Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption, a judicial official said Sunday, after a long trial in which he was accused of fraudulently pocketing $2.8 billion.

Zanjani became notorious during the era of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, finding ways to channel hard currency from oil sales to Tehran despite financial sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic's banks as punishment for its nuclear programme.