December 27-2013
Canada is trying to revoke the citizenship of an Iranian who switched names to try to hide his criminal convictions so he could become a Canadian citizen.
According to Federal Court documents, Kamran Ladbon arrived in Canada in 1988 and proceeded to rack up a string of criminal convictions for drug possession, uttering threats and numerous traffic violations.
After he was convicted, his application for permanent residency was rejected and he was ordered deported from Canada in 1997. But he left on his own for Iran before he was actually thrown out.
A few months later, he applied anew for residency in Canada, this time at the embassy in Syria using the alias Kamran Modaresi and providing a new birthday. He was also sponsored by a new Canadian spouse.
But federal officials allege he failed to mention his past life in Canada, including his convictions, plus outstanding charges in Washington State, the earlier Canadian deportation order and his previous marriages and children.
As all that was unknown, his immigrant application was approved and he moved to Canada. In 2001, he was granted citizenship.
But he was again arrested, this time for the production of marijuana.
Finally, in 2009, a border agent figured out the two identities belonged to the same person and last year Modaresi/Ladbon was convicted of lying to authorities and sentenced to house arrest.
But, despite the prior deportation order on Ladbon, the minister of immigration still needs to revoke the citizenship Modaresi obtained under false pretenses in order to get rid of him.