Business Insider (Reuters), Paris, 17 Sep 2014 – Prosecuting judges in Paris on Wednesday dropped all charges of money laundering and fraud against nine people close to an exiled Iranian opposition group more than 10 years after they were arrested on terrorism charges.
But that judicial investigation lost momentum and many of the restrictions on the suspects’ movement were lifted in 2006 with only nine still investigated for possible money laundering.
The NCRI has repeatedly denied they had committed any wrongdoing accusing the Iranian government of working with French intelligence to taint the group.
“A case is now closed, but a new case will have to be opened,” Rajavi, who has sought to rebrand the Paris-based group as a potential opposition force in Iran, said in a statement.
“The real criminals, who were involved in this dirty deal, those who ordered the arrests and ridiculed French justice for their political and economic interests, will have to face justice,” she said.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed all charges had been dropped.
One of the PMOI’s lawyers, William Bourdon, told Reuters he had rarely seen a case last this long.
“The scrupulous action of (anti-terrorism judge) Trevidic put an end to this serious failing, if not compliance, of the French justice with the manipulation of the Mullahs,” he said.