According to a statement issued by an official of the Judiciary, the trial of two defendants in the case of "Islamic Guidance House" in Karaj was held in camera in Tehran last week, and the presiding judge passed a verdict against the culprits.

One of the convicts was the Head of Karaj Revolutionary Court, Montazeri Moqaddam, who used his influence to exploit runaway girls for prostitution purposes. The case exposed the extent of corruption of some officials and highlighted the urgent need for the overhaul of the Judiciary, which was described by the present Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi as a ruin when he was appointed to the office.

There are still some unanswered questions about the above case which the trial failed to answer because it was held behind closed doors. The Judiciary officials usually cite national security concerns as the main reason for holding trials in camera, but in this case it seems that the trial was held behind closed doors in order to hide the extent of the corruption which Ayatollah Shahroudi has so far been unable to eradicate from the Judiciary.

Unfortunately, the closed-door trial also prevented the public from knowing about the legal grounds on which Montazeri Moqaddam used a state-owned building to set up the brothel.

The far-reaching implication of the case and many unanswered questions pertaining to those responsible cannot be whitewashed by just trying and convicting two officials behind closed doors. The vast social significance of the case merits and demands a full and open investigation. Unfortunately there are other instances of lenience on the part of some Judiciary officials toward corrupt individuals and even proven spies whose deeds have caused irreparable damage to the image and security of the country.

It is a sad reflection on the justice system of the country when very often those who corrupt are treated more leniently than those who have been corrupted.

To take advantage of one's position to encourage young, innocent and inexperienced girls into organized prostitution is a hideous crime that requires severe punishment. Those who for a pittance sell trusted information at their disposal to foreign agents commit an unforgivable crime against their people and country and should not be allowed to return back to their original posts and positions.

But unfortunately one sees convicted perpetrators of such crimes being treated leniently and even released back into public life after serving only a fraction of their sentences. Some even go back to their original posts and positions.

Such an instance is the case of a convicted spy whose sentence was somewhat inexplicably commuted several times and then released before serving his complete term. This former chief editor of an English language daily was arrested in 1997 on charges of spying for a foreign country.

According to the indictment, he passed on classified information to a foreign embassy when he accompanied former Majlis speaker Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri as his press counselor on his last visit during his tenure to Moscow. In addition he was also accused for immoral behavior and conduct in contravention of accepted moral codes of society.

Considering the enormity of his acts, the court handed down a death sentence against him. However, some time later under the influence of some high-ranking officials wielding power in the country, the court commuted his death sentence to five years in jail. Interestingly, this former chief editor and press counselor did not even serve his time completely, as he was recently released from jail on parole and is continuing with his past activities.

As long as the Judiciary does not tackle corruption at its roots, that is as long as it does not take firm action against those responsible for the spread of corruption in the country, whether in financial, moral, political or national security fields, more people especially youngsters will be affected. Simply punishing petty criminals or those who have been corrupted is not a solution. People should come to trust the Judiciary and believe in its intention of providing justice and equality for all.