Cable Briefs (Press, 17 November 1980)

On 17 November 1980, Mohammad Reza Saadati, a prominent leader of the Iranian Mujahedin People’s Party, received a ten-year prison sentence from an Islamic court in Iran. He was found guilty of spying for the Soviet Union after being arrested in April 1980 for allegedly contacting a Soviet journalist. This case highlights ongoing tensions and the crackdown on dissent in post-revolutionary Iran. In Thailand, a devastating series of explosions occurred at a factory warehouse of the Thai Army’s ordnance department, resulting in 18 deaths and over 200 injuries. The explosions took place when workers were reportedly producing 73mm rockets within a facility where a substantial quantity of explosives was stored. The chain reaction was ignited by a fire from the first blast, which subsequently detonated many of the stored rockets, levelled four blocks, and caused widespread devastation in the area. In the entertainment industry, Cary Grant, the legendary actor, has initiated a $10 million slander lawsuit against American comedian Chevy Chase. The lawsuit stems from comments made by Chase during a television appearance, in which he suggested that Grant was homosexual, leading Grant to publicly deny such allegations. At 76 years old, Grant's legal action marks a rare instance of a prominent figure taking a stand against slanderous remarks. In geopolitical news, a senior Chinese official indicated that China might consider using force to "liberate" Taiwan, as reported by a Hong Kong newspaper. Zhao Guangqi, from the State Council’s Bureau of Government Offices Administration, described the current status of Taiwan as a "negative factor" and stated that force could be an option if Taiwan persists in ignoring China's calls for unification. Lastly, in Los Angeles, five Mafia members were found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, with additional convictions on other charges. Notably, they were acquitted of the murder of an informer, Frank “Bomp” Bojnpensiero. The convictions followed an extensive trial and marked a significant step in federal efforts to address organised crime, as it was the first instance where the government formally alleged their connection to the Los Angeles LCN family. The trial exposed the Mafia’s operations, including extortion schemes linked to a Federal Bureau of Investigation sting targeting the pornography industry in Los Angeles.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand