The Shilat Case: The Beginning of the Major Trials
By the autumn of 1961, the Amini government was ready to bring its most prominent cases to trial. The first and most publicized of these was the so-called Shilat Case—a corruption scandal involving the Northern Fisheries Department (Shilat), where senior officials were accused of embezzlement, forgery, and fraud amounting to nearly 30 million rials.
On October 21, 1961, Ettelaat reported that the Criminal Court had confirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case, with Bahman Niakan presiding. The announcement triggered immense public interest. Crowds gathered outside the courthouse, and Ettelaat promised daily coverage of the proceedings.
Prime Minister Amini, addressing a public gathering in Shargh Shahbaz (now 17 Shahrivar Street), declared defiantly that he had received nightly telephone threats but would not be intimidated. “The great trials will begin in a few days,” he told the audience, presenting himself as a fearless defender of justice against the forces of corruption.
On October 26, newspapers announced that 400 people would be permitted to attend the hearings, with four entrance cards allocated to each defendant’s relatives. The following day, October 27, the long-awaited trials began.
