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Judge orders Iran to pay US Marine jailed for 4 years

Posted at 7:18 PM, Oct 02, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-02 19:18:02-04

DETROIT (AP) — A judge has ordered Iran to pay $63.5 million to a former U.S. Marine who was jailed in that country for more than four years.

Judge Ellen Huvelle of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., granted Amir Hekmati’s motion for a default judgment after Iran failed to respond to the complaint. Hekmati, who was released in January 2016, alleged he was falsely imprisoned and tortured.

It’s unclear if Hekmati will get any money.

An email sent by The Associated Press seeking comment from Hekmati’s family wasn’t returned.

Hekmati was detained in August 2011 on espionage charges. He says he went to Iran to visit family and spend time with his ailing grandmother.

Hekmati was born in Arizona and raised in Michigan. His family has lived in the Flint area.