Iran hangs serial bank robber

AFP: Iran on Thursday publicly hanged a serial bank robber who killed a policeman during a clash with security forces, the afternoon daily Kayhan reported.
Ghobad Siah-Mansour was found guilty of several armed bank robberies in the central city of Ispahan and was hanged in the neighbouring town of Najaf-Abad.
AFP

TEHRAN – Iran on Thursday publicly hanged a serial bank robber who killed a policeman during a clash with security forces, the afternoon daily Kayhan reported.

Ghobad Siah-Mansour was found guilty of several armed bank robberies in the central city of Ispahan and was hanged in the neighbouring town of Najaf-Abad.

Since the start of this year, Iran has executed 12 people, according to AFP witnesses and reports in the Iranian press.

Based on press reports, AFP recorded 97 death penalties in 2004.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International reported at least 159 people were executed in Iran that year — the highest rate in the world after China.

Murder, armed attacks, rape, apostasy and drug trafficking of more than five kilograms (11 pounds) are punishable by death in Iran.