October 05, 2018
The United States is seeking to extradite an Iranian from Australia for violating sanctions by sending American-made military gear to Iran.
A University of Queensland researcher on a scholarship could be forced to face a US judge over the allegations.
Reza Debashi Kivi applied for bail, but it was formally denied as the US government seeks to extradite him on eight charges.
The 38-year-old is accused of sending equipment, believed to be power amplifiers, which can be used as parts for radar and tracking purposes to find missiles and planes, to the Iranian government in 2008.
It’s understood Kivi bought the equipment from America firms while he was still in Iran.
His lawyer told the court Kivi has been in Australia for two years on a scholarship at the University of Queensland studying for his doctorate. He is helping to create a mobile testing device for skin cancer.
When denying bail at the Brisbane Arrest Court, the magistrate ruled she couldn’t release him as it would be going against Australia’s treaty agreement with the US.
Kivi will stay behind bars until his extradition hearing is heard next month.
