Mahmoud Reza Khavari
| Mahmoud Reza Khavari | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Mahmoud Reza Khavari May 26, 1952[1] Khorramabad, Lorestan, Iran[1] |
| Residence | Unknown |
| Nationality | Iranian-Canadian[2] |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Criminal charge |
Embezzlement[1] Fraud[1] Bribe taking[1] Illegal acquisition of illicit property[1] |
Capture status | Fugitive |
Wanted by |
Iran Interpol[1] |
| Wanted since | 2012 |
| Escaped | 2011 |
Mahmoud Reza Khavari (Persian: محمودرضا خاوری; born May 26, 1952) is an Iranian former banker[3] who was involved in a 2011 Iranian embezzlement scandal. In 2005 he became a Canadian citizen.[4] As of 2014, he was a fugitive wanted by the judicial authorities of Iran and Interpol. He was chairman of Bank Melli Iran[2] and chairman of Bank Sepah’s board of directors from December 2003 until at least March 2005.[5]
Escape to Canada
On September 27, 2011, he flew from Iran to Canada.[2] Khavari signed his house in Bridle Path, Toronto over to his daughter, to protect it from seizure. Despite numerous requests from Iranian police and Interpol, Canadian authorities did not extradite Khavari. He may face the death penalty if convicted by the judicial system of Iran.[2]
Toronto property records in Khavari’s name date to 2001, when he took out a mortgage for a $615,000 property on Elmwood Ave., in North York. At one time, Khavari owned a Toronto-based company called Soaring Properties.[5]
On October 31, 2011, House of Commons of Canada member Irwin Cotler called for investigation on how he became a Canadian citizen.[6]
Hiding place
In February 2014, the head of the Interpol Office of Iranian police said “a few days ago, the Canadian Interpol claimed in a phone contact that he has escaped to a Latin American or Caribbean country but that they couldn't verify the escape yet, and this is the latest piece of information provided by the Canadian police to us”. He dismissed the report on his escape from Canada".[7]
In March 2015, the same official announced that his hiding place had been discovered and Canadian authorities were referring his case to Canadian judiciary.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "KHAVARI, MAHMOUD REZA". Interpol. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Jedinia, Mehdi (May 12, 2014). "Fugitive banker handed over to Iran". Al-Monitor. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ↑ "Executive Profile Mahmoud Reza Khavari". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
- ↑ Proussalidis, Daniel (October 20, 2011). "Iranian-Canadian banker under investigation". Toronto Sun. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
- 1 2 Jackson, Emily (October 8, 2011). "Iranian tied to bank blacklisted by United Nations". Toronto Star. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Tabling of Petition in the House of Commons – Iran and Mahmoud-Reza Khavari". Irwin Cotler. November 1, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ↑ "Iranian Police Dismiss Report on Fugitive Banker’s Escape from Canada". Fars News Agency. February 3, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
- ↑ "Iranian Police: Fugitive Banker’s Case Referred to Canadian Judicial System". Tasnim News Agency. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015.