Ex-President's son sentenced to 15 years in prison

onnaedo 10:31 - 16 March 2015

Although the 15 year sentence has not been confirmed, it is reported to also include an undisclosed fine and a ban from holding public office.

Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani, son of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for security offences and financial crimes, BBC reports.

Rafsanjani was accused of inciting unrest after Iran's disputed elections in 2009 and was arrested on his return from exile in the UK in 2012.

Rafsanjani has however since been imprisoned by a court in Tehran and has 20 days to appeal against the sentence.

The 45-year old was originally detained and questioned after returning to Tehran in September 2012 but was bailed after nearly 3 months in custody.

He was however rearrested and went on trial last August at Iran's Revolutionary Court, which usually hears cases involving security offences.

Critics view Mehdi Hashemi's sentence as an attempt by hardliners to damage his father's reputation ahead of parliamentary elections next February, following former President Rafsanjani's family coming under scrutiny during the 2009 elections when he backed Mir Hossein Mousavi, the reformist who failed in challenging President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.