Iranian judicial authorities say the unidentified man died by suicide after being arrested on suspicion of espionage.
TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian judicial authorities have announced that a Swiss national who died in an Iranian prison earlier this month was arrested after posing for photographs at a sensitive military facility.
Justice Department spokesman Asghar Jahangir told a press conference on Wednesday that the unnamed man entered Iran last year through the Dogalun border crossing with Afghanistan in northeastern Razavi Khorasan province.
Jahangir said his car was equipped with “various technical equipment that is difficult to use” and that he entered the country as a tourist.
Swiss authorities had previously confirmed the man’s death, identifying him as a 64-year-old man who was visiting the country as a tourist. Authorities said he lived in southern Africa and had not lived in Switzerland for nearly 20 years.
An Iranian Ministry of Justice spokesperson said on Wednesday that the man, who was born in Namibia and has Swiss citizenship, entered the Iranian calendar month of Mehr, which ends on October 21.
“This person entered Semnan province through several provinces and was arrested while taking photographs at a prohibited military site. He was arrested on charges of photographing restricted resources and collaborating with a hostile government. The Swiss embassy in Tehran was also informed.
Iran has announced that an unnamed Swiss national has died by suicide while in prison.
Jahangir said Switzer committed suicide on January 9 by cutting off the electricity in his cell and in an area of his cell that was not visible to the prison’s camera system. Attempts to revive him failed.
A spokesperson said a Swiss embassy delegation of trusted doctors had been invited to the scene.
“They examined the body and confirmed suicide. The body was transferred to the coroner’s office in Tehran and handed over in the presence of a representative from the Swiss embassy,” Jahangir said.
Semnan is located in central Iran and is home to several large military facilities, including major satellite and ballistic missile test and launch facilities.