Mustafa Neely, Jafar Panhi's lawyer, announced in a lengthy interview that Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced the manager to five years and one month in prison and the confiscation of all movable and immovable property. According to him, this sentence was given in his absence.
Neely added that the court also sentenced Panhai to a two-year ban on social networks and a two-year ban on leaving the country.
Panhi's lawyer said about the handling procedure in this case, last week, after his client reported that his bank accounts were blocked, they found out that he was sentenced in absentia in another case in reference to the implementation of the judgments of the Culture and Media Attorney's Office.
According to Neely, it was stated in the file that Panhi was abroad, while he returned to Iran on April 10 during the 40-day war. Neely also said that Branch 16 of the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office issued an arrest warrant for Panahi on May 20, while the director was present that day at Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court to deal with another case. Panhi's lawyer emphasized that his client was not notified of the date of the new hearing in the case and the verdict was given in his absence.