On paper, Ameen Cohen is a 37-year-old banking skilled with a enterprise diploma and a apartment in Thornhill, Ont.
However that’s solely his newest identification.
At a deportation listening to in Toronto, the Canada Border Providers Company (CBSA) revealed the Iranian citizen has used a minimum of three names all through his life.
He arrived in Canada as Amin Yousefijam and previous to that he was Amin Riki. It additionally emerged that he was a Tehran police lieutenant throughout his obligatory army service.
CBSA officers mentioned he legally modified his title to Cohen in Ontario in 2022 — with out divulging that he had been convicted within the U.S. of serving to Iran evade sanctions.
The brand new particulars about his evolving identification emerged final week at an Immigration and Refugee Board listening to that can resolve whether or not he must be despatched again to Iran.
Canadian immigration enforcement officers wish to deport him on the grounds his position in an Iranian sanctions dodging scheme makes him a nationwide safety risk.
By illegally transport delicate gear to Iran, he undermined Canada’s efforts to include the risks posed by the Islamic republic, the CBSA argued.
The Toronto resident contributed to “an elevated safety risk in the direction of Canada with regard to terrorism and assault by nuclear weapons,” in accordance with a CBSA report.
His actions “straight compromised” the Canadian authorities’s overseas coverage on Iran’s authoritarian regime, which heads an “axis of resistance” that features Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemens’ Houthis.
The case comes because the federal authorities is below strain to stop members and supporters of the repressive Iranian regime from utilizing Canada as a safe haven.
Amin Yousefijam exterior IRB workplace in Etobicoke, Ont., Feb. 26, 2025.
World Information
On the listening to, he testified he was born Amin Riki however legally modified his title to Amin Yousefijam in Iran earlier than arriving in Canada in 2016.
When the CBSA requested if he did so to cover from the previous, he responded: “That’s your opinion.”
He mentioned he merely didn’t like the way in which the title Riki sounded and Yousefijam was “the title that resonated with me probably the most.”
As Yousefijam, he was arrested in Toronto in January 2021 on U.S. charges alleging he shipped delicate items to Iran in violation of sanctions.
He was detained in Canada for 10 months earlier than he was transported to Michigan, the place he spent greater than a month in custody, pleaded responsible and was sentenced to time served.
Requested by the CBSA if he was conscious that pleading responsible meant admitting to his position within the conspiracy, he mentioned he solely entered a responsible plea as a result of it was the quickest technique to resolve the matter.
“It was not an act of contrition,” he insisted.
Following his conviction in November 2021, Yousefijam was returned to Ontario, the place he virtually instantly utilized to vary his title to Ameen Cohen.
On his Ontario title change type, he ticked the “no” field in response to questions asking if he had a felony report in Canada or elsewhere, the CBSA mentioned.
Yousefijam testified that he had phoned an Ontario authorities data line and was instructed he solely needed to disclose convictions in Canada. He mentioned he checked once more lately and obtained the identical response.
Following his testimony, nonetheless, World Information additionally phoned the Ontario authorities however was instructed convictions needed to be disclosed regardless of the place they occurred.
“Disclosure of felony convictions in each Canadian and different jurisdictions is required,” Joey Wu, a Ministry of Public and Enterprise Service Supply spokesperson, confirmed.
The title change type warns candidates that, “It’s a severe crime below the Legal Code of Canada to make a false assertion.”
Yousefijam denied he was attempting to hide his previous and claimed he solely modified his title as a result of his surname was too lengthy and induced him prejudice.
He mentioned he selected the title Cohen as a result of it had each English and Persian roots. “That was a private choice that I made,” he mentioned. “I picked a reputation that resonated with me probably the most.”
His brother Arash Yousefijam was additionally convicted within the sanctions conspiracy and adjusted his title to Aurash Cohen. He instructed World Information he did so as a result of “we wish to begin a brand new life.”
Beneath the title Aurash Cohen, he grew to become an Ontario dentist however was stripped of his licence final fall on the grounds he was required to reveal his felony historical past “in any jurisdiction” with the province’s dental registry.
The Ontario authorities has mentioned it was trying into its title change system because of the brothers.
“The flexibility to vary one’s title shouldn’t be a loophole for evading justice,” the spokesperson for the minister accountable for the title change registry mentioned.
“Permitting severe felony offenders to hide their identities not solely undermines the integrity of our justice system but in addition poses a big danger to our communities.”
Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei listens to the nationwide anthem as air power officers salute, Tehran, Iran, Feb. 7, 2025. (Workplace of the Iranian Supreme Chief through AP).
VS
The CBSA offered its case in opposition to Yousefijam throughout two days of hearings earlier than a Refugee Board member who will resolve whether or not to challenge a deportation order.
Responding to questions posed by two CBSA officers, Yousefijam mentioned he obtained concerned within the sanctions scheme on the request of his brother Arash, an Iran-born naturalized Canadian he described because the chief of the conspiracy.
He mentioned his brother was lately married and busy on the time, and requested Yousefijam to tackle the logistical aspect of the operation. “He requested me to discover a good worth, principally, shipper,” he mentioned.
He was near his brother and regarded it “a household obligation to assist him out,” he mentioned. However he later mentioned he didn’t know the place his brother now lived, and so they spoke solely by way of video chats.
Yousefijam denied realizing any operational particulars and mentioned his position was restricted to sending emails, first whereas residing in Iran and later in Canada, after he arrived on a everlasting resident visa.
The supplies had been shipped initially to the United Arab Emirates after which repackaged for transport to Iran — a tactic CBSA officers mentioned was generally used to evade sanctions.
Whereas he has an MBA, Yousefijam mentioned he was not aware of worldwide sanctions and cash laundering rules till he started a banking job in 2018.
The IRB’s was anticipated to rule on his deportation this summer time.
Picture of Mahsa Amini on flag at rally in opposition to Iranian regime, in Washington, D.C. Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photograph/Jose Luis Magana).
Canada launched a crackdown on Iran in 2022 in response to the regime’s suppression of protests that erupted over the arrest and killing of Mahsa Amini, who was focused for displaying her hair in public.
To strain Tehran, the federal government banned senior Iranian officers and members of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps from the nation whereas vowing to deport these already right here.
Since then, the CBSA has recognized 18 alleged senior Iranian officers residing in Canada. The IRB has issued deportation orders in opposition to two of them thus far, Seyed Salman Samani and Majid Iranmanesh.
However the IRB has declined to expel two others, and the CBSA has withdrawn its case in opposition to one other, Elham Zandi, an official mentioned Monday.
Neither the IRB nor the CBSA would clarify why.
In her Jan. 28 report on overseas interference, Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue wrote that neighborhood members had instructed her Iranian officers “dwell overtly and freely in Canada.”
The Iranian regime “needs to exert affect in Canada as a result of there’s a massive and well-educated Iranian diaspora,” a witness, whose title was not launched, instructed the inquiry.
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