IRAN WANTS CANADA TO TURN OVER BANK MELLI MANAGING DIRECTOR

Khavari

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has asked Canada to extradite Mahmoud Reza Khavari, the former Managing Director of Bank Melli, the Iranian government-owned bank sanctioned for its participation in Iran's illegal WMD and ballistic missile programmes. Khavari reportedly was involved in the $2.6bn embezzlement fraud that resulted recently in four fraudsters being sentenced to death*.

Khavari, who obtained dual Canadian citizenship in 2005, reportedly is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and a "Verdict to Prosecute" in Iran, which does not recognise his Canadian status. Canada can revoke his citizenship, if it determines that his citizenship application was fraudulent. There is no bilateral extradition treaty between Iran and Canada.

His Canadian cottage

Whilst there is a presumption that Khavari is innocent of these charges, one wonders exactly how such a high profile PEP, who was the MD of a major Iranian bank, passed the investigation for citizenship. I know that Canada's immigrant investor programme has brought in CDN$350m, but there must be adequate Enhanced Due Diligence performed, before allowing obvious PEPs to use suspect funds to gain Canadian citizenship.
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*Iran sentences White Collar Criminals to Death for stealing Trillions