Iran’s judiciary is of the opinion that the unknown person committed suicide after being arrested on espionage charges.
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s judiciary says the Swiss national who died in an Iranian prison earlier this month was arrested after taking photos of sensitive military sites.
Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir told reporters during a news conference on Wednesday that the unidentified man entered Iran last year through the Dogrun border crossing with Afghanistan in northeastern Khorasan-Rizvi province.
Jahangir said that his vehicle had “a variety of technical devices with difficult usage” and that he entered as a tourist.
Swiss authorities, who had previously confirmed the man’s death, identified him as a 64-year-old man visiting the country as a tourist. He said he was living in South Africa and had not been in Switzerland for almost two decades.
A spokesman for the Iranian judiciary said on Wednesday that the man was born in Namibia, had Swiss citizenship, and entered the Iranian calendar month of Mehr, which ended on October 21.
“This man entered Semnan Province after passing through several provinces, and was arrested while taking photos at a prohibited military location. He was arrested for photographing limited resources and cooperating with the opposition government. The Swiss embassy in Tehran was also informed.
Iran has said that an unidentified Swiss citizen committed suicide in prison.
Jahangir said that on January 9, the Swiss cut the electricity to his cell and killed himself in a part of the cell that was not visible from the prison’s camera system. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
A delegation from the Swiss embassy, ​​including a trusted doctor, was invited to the scene, the spokesman said.
They examined the body and confirmed suicide. The body was taken to the coroner’s office in Tehran and handed over in the presence of representatives of the Swiss embassy,” Jahangir said.
Semnan is located in central Iran and has several major military sites, including major satellite and ballistic missile testing and launching facilities.
