TEHRAN, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian court has sentenced four people to death on charges of producing and distributing counterfeit alcohol which poisoned hundreds of people in the northern province of Alborz in June, Mizan news agency of the Iranian judiciary reported on Tuesday.
A total of 208 people were poisoned, of whom 17 died and another 191 were injured or disabled after consuming the counterfeit alcohol, the agency quoted Iranian judiciary spokesman Masoud Setayeshi as saying.
He said the suspects had illegally purchased industrial-grade alcohol from a medical equipment store and made counterfeit alcoholic drinks out of it before distributing them in the province.
Setayeshi said the prime suspect has studied chemistry and is a laboratory expert.
Besides the four death sentences, another seven suspects were given jail terms ranging from one to five years, Setayeshi said.
The suspects and their lawyers have been notified of the court rulings, Setayeshi said, adding they can appeal against the conviction. ■
