May 17, 2019
Iran’s relations with Canada just keep getting worse. Now, after a second accused embezzler has taken refuge in Canada, Tehran’s disgust for Canada has risen to new heights.
Members of the Iranian-Canadian community have even been signing a petition against the two accused embezzlers now enjoying the free life in Canada and complaining of Canada’s inaction on Iran’s appeals for extradition.
Addressing Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti, Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale and Minister of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier, the petition signers said the Canadian government must step into the fray and launch an investigation against fugitive financial criminals Mahmud-Reza Khavari, who fled to Canada eight years ago, and Marjan Sheikholeslami-Aleagha, who flew into Canadian exile several weeks ago.
“Our community and the Iranian Canadian Congress have raised concerns about the case of Khavari on several occasions both during the former government of Prime Minister [Stephen] Harper and during the time of the current Liberal government,” said the petition. “However, Iranian Canadians have never received any response, nor has the government taken any action on this issue. As such, we demand answers on the case of Mahmud-Reza Khavari from the Canadian government.”
Khavari was a banker who fled to Canada after a $2.6 billion financial fraud came to light in 2011. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison in absentia and Interpol issued a Red Notice authorizing his arrest in December 2017. Canada has remained mute.
The case of Sheikholeslami-Aleagha only recently came into light. While being indicted in Iran in a $10 million corruption case, she moved to Canada and invested in properties and started businesses.
Sheikholeslami-Aleagha is accused of embezzling public funds in Iran in two separate cases. In 2010, amid the international sanctions on Iran, she founded various companies in Iran and Turkey to help Iran bypass the sanctions and sell its petrochemical products, but has reportedly refused to pay the government its money.
In March 2019, she was accused of being involved in a giant embezzlement case, which was first rumored to involve 6.6 billion euros ($7.5 billion), but was later announced as some 35 million euros ($40 million). The fraud was committed by officials at the Iran National Petrochemical Company, Iranian prosecutors said.
The petition complained of the passive approach of the Canadian government, which has been stoically silent on both cases. It urged the Canadian ministers to prevent the country from turning Canada into a haven for corrupt money.