The prisoner was a businessman who had been charged with violating foreign currency regulations.

It also uncovered evidence suggesting that the brother of Amitabh Bachchan, Mr. Gandhi's friend and a movie star, had violated foreign currency regulations.

The American, Erwin David Rabhan, a businessman who had been accused of violating foreign currency regulations, was released about two weeks ago after completing his sentence.

As Minister of Finance he tried to cause an economic upheaval in Israel by abolishing foreign currency regulations and travel tax, as well as cheapening imported goods.

His minister of Imperial Court, Abdolhossein Teymourtash, was accused and convicted of corruption, bribery, misuse of foreign currency regulations, and plans to overthrow the Shah.