The Police Chief In Iran Was Detained, Imbas From The Shooting Of A Men Who Rayakan Iran's Defeat To The US At The 2022 World Cup

JAKARTA - A police chief in Iran has been detained in connection with a shooting case that befell men while celebrating the defeat of their national team at the 2022 World Cup. Several people also suffered the same fate.

Samak died in the northern city of Bandar Anzali on November 30. The 27-year-old was hit by a rifle bullet, said legal media Mizan Online, as reported by Antara via AFP, Friday, December 9.

A police official told state news agency IRNA Samak was killed "in a crowd". The incident occurred after the defeat of the Iranian team to the arch-enemy of the United States in the Group B preliminary match. The defeat left Iran eliminated from the tournament.

"The late Samak was hit by a rifle and died of his injuries," said Colonel Mahmoud Rajabi, legal adviser to the Gilan province police.

He told IRNA "a number of suspects have been arrested" under investigation, but the report did not identify them.

"A number of people, including Colonel Jafar Javanmardi, the former police commander of Bandar Anzali, are being investigated," said Rajabi.

A lawyer representing Samak's family wrote on social media that the city's police chief was one of those arrested, according to the Tasnim news agency.

"A week after the death of Expert Samak and based on evidence, Jafar Javanmardi, Police Commander (Bandar) Anzali... was placed in pre-trial detention," said lawyer Majid Ahmadi, quoted by Tasnim, last Wednesday.

Ahmadi accused Javanmardi of violating the rules for the use of firearms, "which resulted in the death ofpan Samak".

The local police told Tasnim that they might file a lawsuit against Ahmadi for his position.

Foreign rights groups say Samak has been shot dead by Iranian security forces after honking his car horn during celebrations following Iran's defeat at the World Cup.

IRNA quoted Rajabi, a police legal adviser, as noting "the importance of this issue," and said "the results will be announced by the court."