Mahmoud Reza Khavari

Mahmoud Reza Khavari (Persian: محمودرضا خاوری‎; born May 26, 1952) is an Iranian former banker^[3] who was involved in 2011 Iranian embezzlement scandal. In 2005 he became a Canadian Citizen.^[4] As of 2014, he is 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 Iran to Canada, where he holds citizenship.^[2] Khavari signed his $3 million house in Bridle Path, Toronto over to his daughter, angering Iranian people. Despite numerous requests from Iranian police and Interpol, Canadian authorities did not extradite Khavari. He may face the death penalty if convicted by Judicial system of Iran.^[2]

Toronto property records in Khavari’s name date back to 2001, when he took out a mortgage for a $615,000 property on Elmwood Ave., in North York, with his spouse. At one time, Khavari owned a Toronto-based company called Soaring Properties, formerly known as Soaring Travel.^[5]

On October 31, 2011, House of Commons of Canada member Irwin Cotler called for investigations on his citizenship acquisition process.^[6]

Hiding place

In February 2014, 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 is revealed and Canadian authorities are referring his case to Canadian judiciary.^[8]

References