A top bank official who stepped down after an alleged large-scale Iranian embezzlement scandal broke has been widely reported to have fled to Canada and to be staying in a Bridle Path home valued at nearly $3 million.
Mahmoud Reza Khavari was the chairman and managing director at Bank Melli Iran, a state-run operation that is allegedly involved in a $2.6 billion fraud case. Khavari is thought to have come to Canada shortly after other high-ranking bank officials were arrested. He is reportedly wanted for questioning by prosecutors.
According to reports, the alleged embezzlement scandal involved the use of forged letters to secure bank credit that was then put toward the purchase of state-owned assets.
A group of concerned Canadians has started an online petition, calling on Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Minister Jason Kenney to investigate whether or not Khavari has abided by the laws of the land.
“Apart from our reasonable apprehension that Mr. Khavari misled Canadian authorities, we firmly believe that in his capacity as the key financier of the Islamic republic he has been complicit in numerous odious activities,” states the petition.
Nick M. Loghmani, one of individuals who helped organize the petition, said that his group has questions about how Khavari obtained citizenship and what money he may have brought with him to Canada.
“If there is a level of scrutiny applied because of concern about [the Iranian government’s] behaviour … We’re really concerned,” he said.
At press time, the online petition had garnered 2,000 signatures.
Jen Burkholder, a media spokesperson for the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration could not say whether or not Khavari was under investigation. That information is subject to privacy legislation, she explained. Burkholder did, however, confirm that the ministry was in receipt of the petition.
“We take citizenship fraud seriously. Canadian citizenship is not for sale,” she said in an e-mailed statement. “It can be revoked if a person falsely represented themselves or committed fraud. We intend to apply the full force of the law and follow those who have obtained citizenship fraudulently.”
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
