February 21-2014
. . . admits to girlfriend
Canada is investigating one of its anti-terrorism agents for having a year-long affair with her target, an alleged Iranian spy.
The Montreal French-language daily La Presse said a seemingly innocent text message sent from a cellphone by the Canadian female agent triggered the probe.
“Hey darling, I have a little something special I want to give you for Christmas. 😉 I hope that you have a great Christmas. Let’s talk soon, okay? I love you and I miss you. xxo,” it reportedly said.
The woman, Trina Kennedy, worked for Passport Canada and had been assigned to an Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) that was tasked with monitoring the suspect, Arian Azarbar, an Iranian-born Canadian living in Montreal.
According to La Presse, the woman instead became the target of an internal investigation after her affair was uncovered. She has been suspended from her job.
It isn’t yet known if she tipped off Azarbar that he was being watched.
La Presse said Azarbar is involved in real estate development in Venezuela, where he is believed to have come into contact with Iranian nationals working with Caracas on joint projects.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), according to La Presse, suspect Azarbar is spying for Iran. But Azarbar rejects that allegation. “I’m just a businessman,” he told La Presse. “What could I possibly have of interest to give to the Iranian government?”
But Azarbar did tell reporters he and Kennedy were longtime lovers.
Canada is not just concerned about Kennedy. A Montreal police office, Sgt.-Det. Philippe Paul, was reassigned last month amid allegations that he had leaked information to Azarbar, according to the QMI news agency.
QMI reported that it interviewed Azarbar and that Azarbar said Passport Canada—his girlfriend’s employer—had quietly supplied a new identity and Canadian passport to an Israeli Mossad agent living in Canada since being exposed as one of the plotters who tried to kill a Hamas official in a Dubai hotel in 2010. Azarbar said he had been told all about it by Kennedy after a night out and several drinks. He said she later asked him to forget what she had said.
