News

Bahrain on Monday sacked a state minister after he was accused of links to a domestic and international money laundering network suspected of working for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard.

The Gulf state's ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa, issued a decree relieving Minister of State Mansoor bin Rajab of his official duties as of Tuesday.

It is the first time since Bahrain gained independence from Britain in 1971 that such a high-ranking minister has lost his post and faced prosecution for alleged criminal and corruption charges.

Bin Rajab, 55, was briefly detained by authorities for questioning last week. His home and offices were also searched.

The decision came at a time when judicial investigations in both Bahrain and Kuwait were underway to uncover details of a money laundering network suspected of working for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The United States in late 2007 designated the guard as a foreign terrorist organization, cutting off Iranian companies and individuals from the U.S. financial system.

The Iranian military forces since then have been suspected of laundering money from “opium” sales to cover its covert operations in the Middle East.

Bin Rajab earlier said he was summoned by the interior ministry for questioning, the Gulf Daily News newspaper reported.

"The Criminal Investigation Directorate summoned me to answer questions about myself and some employees in my ministry," Bin Rajab was quo... >>>