Iran gives death sentence to "Israeli spy"
Monday, 30 Jun 2008 11:00
Death sentence for "Israeli spy"
Iran In Focus
If the US public is aware of the extent to which the White House was interfering in the internal affairs of Tehran in an attempt to topple the Iranian government, they would demand an immediate change in policy. Full Story
From our special correspondent
Iran has handed down a death sentence to a man accused of spying for Israel.
Tehran's revolutionary court has imposed the death sentence on 43-year old Ali Astari after a two-day hearing that began on Saturday.
Prosecutors presented the court with what reports describe as "spying equipment" allegedly given to the man by Israel's intelligence service, Mossad.
Ashtari was arrested 18 months ago on charges of spying for Israel in return for cash.
Prosecutors said he had transfered sensitive material from Iran's research, military and defense centres.
They alleged he had met with Mossad agents in Turkey, Thailand and Switzerland where he received a laptop computer with special email encryption capabilities.
The court said this is an initial verdict, and a final verdict will be issued after an automatic appeal by the man's lawyers within 20 days.