An Iranian, who was a Dominican diplomat, has been arrested after a lengthy international manhunt and has been extradited to Iran through Havana and Moscow to face trial
Alireza Zibahalat Monfared, 43, was arrested in the Dominican Republic and is accused of helping to embezzle billions of dollars while Iran evaded international oil sanctions, media reports say.
It is alleged that he was involved in Iran’s biggest-ever corruption scandal, working alongside tycoon Babak Zanjani who was sentenced to death last year for pocketing $2.8 billion while helping the country bypass sanctions, according to online news organization alarabiya.net.
The news organization reports that Monfared had various passports and had managed to escape extradition at least once when he was briefly detained in Malaysia.
Unconfirmed reports from state-run Iran Daily newspaper said that he was arrested in Dominica.
“He had close contacts with the main individuals in the great oil embezzlement file and was handed to the judiciary,” head of Iran’s international police department, Masoud Rezvani, said.
Reports indicated that Monfared was involved in the controversial My Dominica Trade House website which back in 2015 said it was a company based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with three local companies in Dominica.
According to the website, the companies provided limousine taxi services, aqua prawn farming facility and energy solution that are completely based on green energy. The site said the companies also operated a spring water bottle plant, a business and consultancy management company that assisted the citizenship and passport applications for different countries including Dominica and managing valuable client’s assets.
The site is no longer active.
Monfared was issued a Dominican diplomatic passport in March 2015, according to reports. Last year The Sun newspaper published a report of 24 names of diplomatic appointees provided by a foreign affairs expert and Monafred was on the list.
DNO has since been informed that Monfared’s diplomatic passport was revoked on January 20, 2016.
Why the oil tankers have D/A flag on them? I hope the profit goes to an International Airport
Why the tankers have D/A flag on them? I hope the profit goes to an International Airport
Best move I’ve made in years – got rid of that passport that says “Commonwealth of Dominica” I staying overseas papa!
DNO staffers could you all state the source of your story. There is no such arrest of Alireza Zibahalat Monfared mentioned on state-run Iran Daily newspaper. There is no mention on Interpol website regarding the arrest of Alireza Zibahalat Monfared.There is no mention of the arrest of Alireza Zibahalat Monfared in The Dominican Republic.
Astaphan is already responding so don’t you worry about the legitimacy of the source. Worry about what this man was actually doing for Dominica
people have to do everything for allu, that is why that place if so much ignorance dumb@$$
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2017/01/16/Iran-arrests-corruption-fugitive-Alireza-Monfared-after-international-manhunt-.html
Yes…we like Dominica going on the world map…but not in that way…
Now why doesn’t he have an Iranian diplomatic passport if he’s Iranian..How dose he end up having a DA diplomatic passport being Iranian…
You’ll guys in DA are getting you’ll selves tied up in a lot of messss……
There’s no doubt his fate is in the hands of the brutal regime in Tehran Iran. Death by firing squad! Rest assured, his days are numbered. That’s enough to send shockwaves in Dominica’s Corrupt Criminal Enterprise spines. Dominica you are on the world stage once again in very bad publicity.
DNO it is clear that you changed the headline. what are you afraid of . It clearly stated Dominican diplomat. Tony give a reply and then you chnge the headline, but I have a copy of the original headline you issued.
ADMIN: Stories get updated all the time, as it develops. That is part of the news. There is no way we could know whether Monfared was still a diplomat or not because the gov’t refuse to make this information public.
The writing is on the wall.
Be patient Dominicans something big is about to happen.
All the King’s Horses and all the King’s men were not able to put “humpty dumpy” together again.
Read between the lines.
God works in mysterious ways, for weeks those apologists were asking for fact, proof and evidence, and boom a bombshell
Isn’t it nice when somebody puts Dominica on de Map?
This occurs worldwide. It is not as if people are not aware of such occurrences. Only the naive make an issue out of it. It makes for good reading, the supposedly rich and famous.
Thanks DNO!
Well, he did not harm Dominicans in anyway; did not murder anyone. The man just wanted to be free and to enjoy his life with his wife and family with the money. Some people just want to live in peace. Dominica would have been an ideal place.
He posed as a rich man. If he continued to reside in Dominica, it would gain much while not knowing how he obtained the money. The government nor Dominicans are to be blamed.
Furthermore, consider those years of what occurred In Iran and those countries to today. I will not shed tears for Iran, only for the oppressed law-abiding people as also the Christians.
Imagine executing a man who stole billions. Why not imprison him for life? It tells the type of Iranian government.
I think he has family in Dominica. “Prominent” people too.
I read some of the comments about this Iranian diplomat leaving in Dominica and was arrested. Dominica should not let foreigners come here and think that it’s ok, these people have all sorts of ties and they will make you think that they will help the country but instead they will help themselves and take over the country and create a nightmare more vilolence and conflict that will not be good for Dominica, this country cannot handle outsiders with problems coming to save their skin from crimes they commits in their country. Wake up Mr. President if you keep giving out passport to other foreigners to come here one day you will loose this island we Dominicans love and would like to come home too. I don’t mind change but be that it’s for the better and not for the worst.
So you really believe no Dominicans have committed crimes outside of Dominica?
This is not the first time and nothing new. They have been allowing foreigners into Dominica dating back to many years ago. Everyone welcomed them without batting an eye or asking a question.. They lived as bourgeois in Dominica.
I remember the US man who owned Castaways at Mero. I wonder who was he in the US. It was a popular place to go to bathe. Once, when a few of us went to bathe at Mero, I noticed his staff, mostly young women were from the Carib Reserve area – all white-skinned. They come to D/ca with all their prejudices.
I think he has since died and Castaways is closed.
You heard of Sanford in Antigua. He is in a US prison serving a life-time sentence. Antiguans trusted him with their money.
We should not be surprised at that man and what occurred to him. Even though he was investigated, some people can hide their identity and character very well. It is obvious this is what this man did.
Be broad-minded and give the PM and Tony a break
while such massive scandals should result in resignations and call for new elections. The red shirts under judas Iscariot will continue to give alternative facts. So the parade continues.
while such massive scandals should result in resignations and call for new elections. The red shirts under judas Iscariot will continue to give alternative facts.
DNO We need a new poll. Whether Skerrit should resign
That’s not true. Linton planted that story too. It’s all made up. He never had a Dominican Diplomatic Passport.
My only questions are these:
1) If he is an international fugitive on the run for years, why would he be so brazen and travel the world even going to Malaysia on a rich excursion, in full view of the international media?
2) Why wasn’t the information about his criminality brought out when the ‘My Dominica Trade House’ story broke last year?
3) Is there any evidence that he obtained a passport illegally or through underhanded dealings?
4) If so where is the paper trail of the monies exchanged?
5) If he was vetted then who did the vetting?
I would suggest you listen to Q95 once in a while. it is educational. This man was exposed by Allen right from the time the holy trio of Alick Lawrence, Kenneth Darroux and Emmanuel Nanthan made a trip to Lankawi in Malaysia. In fact last year Angelo disclosed the details of this man on his show and his involvement in big time illegal oil business, I remember that clearly and I listen to both DBS and Q95, so I can make up my own mind and know the difference.
Just in time for Carnival; bring out the Lapaut Cabrit: Bomb la pataaay, Bomb la patay en Roseau.
You remind me of my days as a teen
Let’s see how Tony Astaphan spins that one.
I am totally disgusted by this news.
There is a knot in my stomach and every Dominican regardless of political affiliation should be calling for the DLD government’s resignation and new elections. Refusal should lead to a complete shut down of the country until the government is gone. Come of Dominicans! When are we going to get the message that this regime has doomed the nation and continues to abuse the system and us by extension. Mr. Opposition leader, Union Leaders, Religious leaders please unite and bring on mass protest until the Poopoo Cabal and their henchmen resign.
Mr. Police Commissioner please detain those “accused” of prostituting Ma Dominque and launch a full investigation with the intent on charging those who are found to have committed a crime.
Always assertive and ready to be aggressive for the love of country!
I have that growing knot too. I don’t know why more outrage is not pouring out. I am trying to remain neutral but hmmmmm
it is so sad that Dominica Diplomats are being arrested all the time. What are the intelligent government doing. Even to get a job nowadays, credit history, police reports and backgrounds are being check. Wake Up Dominichen.
I hope this isn’t one of those BS online news falsified story. I hope to get some clarification on this from an appropriate authority.
Well that’s a great talking point, so are Dominicans just going to continue talking..It’s time now to drop Skerrit as a Rogue agent to avoid the wrath of blacklisting that will follow that Dominican passport around.
If it is that he didn’t act alone in supplying Criminals with Dominican DP, then the whole Cabinet is complicit and should vacate seat immediately..
Just wait for it. The spin is coming.
We discovered SOME TIME back that he was a wanted man and distant our selves from him as we made efforts to revoke his passport. At the time he was given a diplomatic passport since he was acting on behalf of Dominica to do ??????????? The DLP took immediate action long ago when we found out the truth about him through our investigations. Since we use 3 companies in the US it was hard to tell since he was not on the us radar but on IRAN’s
wait for the spin. The PM will come up with something and half of you will say again oh ya that is true
More reasons for having a commission of inquiry now.
OK Skerritt and your apologists like Gregory,Tony,Duncan,Vince, Rupert it’s time you come clean and level with the Dominican people.Are you now going to blame CBS and Lennox.So much for due diligence.I am waiting for Skerritt to say it’s fake news or maybe he’ll go and hide like when CBS called for him to clear the good name of Dominica
Skerritt is just laughing at you all…stay in your houses and hide…set of cowards!!! You say Dominica will come like Haiti?? Hell no!! If skerrit was in haiti, longggg time they make him run. Choooops!!
I support U 100%, but is people like U and me that is suppose to join the match, to get SKERRIT to run like those in Haiti would do, don’t U think so?
My passport expiring in July. As long as Skerrit is the owner of Dominica l will stay where I am
So this guy was Ambassador of what or of where? Not Iran because he is a wanted man there.
Bossman…them man living large…..goodness
Brothers and Sisters,
The time has come for the rebirth of the Dominica Freedom Party. For too long, so many of us with integrity have sat on the sideline … sometimes cheering, sometime frowning but we can be on the sidelines no more. By our collective action, we can free our people from the chains of poverty! We can free them from the despair of inadequate health care! We can free them from the tarnish caused by the negative light of the CIP. Freedom needs to ring from every village, from every hamlet, from every corner of Dominica. The Dominica Freedom Party must return and must reign. Thank you #DFP; #Fredom
Didn’t Skerrit come from the Freedom Party though? I thought that he was a major part of the young freedom movement and has definitely shown himself to be an horrible leader who only thinks about himself and those close to him. If so, the Freedom Party has to be transformed also in order to be a viable option today.
You are right. And so did Charles Savarin remember?
@Observer12
This transformation has been taking place for along, long time… We now need young, fresh, progressive and un-tarnished minds that will put D/ca and interest of Dominicans first.
Wow lie Lennox lieing . the truth will reveal always. Where are you mr. Nassief
Stupes. so long Rebecca Theodore telling us that?
See how them Domeeinacan rejoicing..Am from Svg an we never bring down our country like this..Am married to a Dominican..U guys are really bringing down your country.
LOL when persons cannot conceive logical and rational thoughts… instead vomit nonsensical babble.
No one is bringing down their country….. we are bringing to light the corruption in a government…. SKERRIT IS NOT DOMINICA! LABOUR PARTY IS NOT DOMINICA!
If you are from SVG – Shut yo a then
Shut up . Unless youre feeling it first hand . You’re married to a Dominican . Not a true bred Dominican . Don’t tell us what to do . We’re not pleased and we’ll talk till we’re heard .
Thank god is your husband thats from Dca and not you because you sound totally clueless. If we are bringing down our country by advocating that unscrupulous politician STOP abusing our passports (our dignity) then why did Ralph Gonsalves (SVG PM) refuse to sell SVG passports? Hypocrite! Stay in SVG and allow us the freedom to take care of our issues as we please. If I was your hussy I would divorce you forthwith for being so clueless
Always Assertive!
We are just revealing the truth
Fool you cant bring down something that is already down did you go to school and was it only weekends and at dark nights ? you must be one of the DOM-IN-CANS that’s waiting on the rain to fall but have nothing to save the water the time is COMING
All the countries are on the ground.what is the matter did marry the country
RELAX GUYS, THIS must be AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, HE MUST HAVE STOLEN THAT PASSPORT BECAUSE… Pm skerrit yes men said we don’t sell Diplomatic passports
