TEHRAN, Iran — Iran ’s semi - official ILNA news agency is reporting that authorities have detained a close ally of former hard - line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad .
The Saturday report says the office of Tehran prosecutor’s said police detained Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei for “ investigations.” It did not elaborate .
On Thursday, Mashaei, in front of the British embassy in Tehran, burnt a copy of a court verdict sentencing Hamid Baghaei, another Ahmadinejad ally who was sentenced to 15 years for the misuse of public funds when he was a vice- president under Ahmadinejad . Baghaei began serving his term earlier this week.
Several of Ahmdainejad ’s allies are in jail over the misappropriation of public funds .
During Baghaei’ s trial , Ahmadinejad repeatedly appeared outside the court criticizing many officials, including the head of the judiciary , Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani.