Iranian former minister detained in Germany over USD 70-million check

Former Iranian Finance Minister Tahmasb Mazaheri was detained at the German international airport of Düsseldorf as he tried to enter Germany from Turkey on January 21 with a USD 70 million check issued by Venezuelan state-run bank Banco de Venezuela.

According to information released on the Sunday edition of daily newspaper Bild, customs authorities found the check in Mazaheri's luggage, AP cited.

Mazaheri, who is also the former chairman of the Central Bank of Iran, explained that the check was intended to fund the construction of 10,000 homes to be built by Venezuela.

The former official is likely to face charges for tax evasion. According to Bild, the German police and customs authorities are also investigating whether this is a money laundering case.

In 2008, an Iran-Venezuela bank, called Banco Internacional de Desarrollo, C.A., was set up upon the approval of the Venezuelan government. The incorporation of the bank was been preliminarily approved by Tahmasb Mazaheri acting in his capacity as head of the Central Bank of Iran.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera