Swiss national who died in prison photographed sensitive military facilities: Iran

Iran’s judiciary has announced that the Swiss national who died in custody earlier this month was arrested after taking photographs at sensitive military sites.

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir told reporters during a news conference on Wednesday that the unnamed man entered Iran through the Dogharoun border crossing with Afghanistan in northeastern Razavi Khorasan Province last year.

His vehicle had “a variety of technical equipment with difficult uses” and he entered as a tourist, Jahangir said.

Swiss officials, who had previously confirmed the man’s death, had identified him as a 64-year-old who had been visiting the country as a tourist. They said he had been living in Southern Africa and had not resided in Switzerland for nearly two decades.

The Iranian judiciary spokesperson stated on Wednesday that the man was born in Namibia, held Swiss citizenship, and entered in the Iranian calendar month of Mehr, which ended on October 21.

“The person entered the province of Semnan after passing through several provinces, and was arrested in a prohibited military site while photographing it. He was arrested on charges of photographing restricted resources and cooperation with a hostile government and was moved to prison. At the same time, the Swiss embassy in Tehran was informed.”

Iran has announced that the unnamed Swiss national died by suicide while jailed.

Jahangir said that on January 9, the Swiss national cut off electricity to his cell and killed himself in an area of the cell that was not visible to the prison’s camera system. Attempts to revive him failed.

The spokesperson added a delegation from the Swiss embassy, which comprised a trusted doctor, was invited to the site.

“They examined the body and confirmed the suicide. The body was moved to the coroner’s office in Tehran and handed over in the presence of representatives from the Swiss embassy,” Jahangir continued.

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