May 28, 2012

        An Iranian national who was indicted in the United States for conspiracy to defraud the US government was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last week.

       In a report submitted to NBI Officer-In-Charge Atty. Nonnatus Caesar R. Rojas by the Foreign Liaison Division (FLD) headed by Atty. Claro De Castro, the subject was identified as:

  PARVIZ KHAKI alias Martin, 43, and an Iranian businessman.

     Investigation report disclosed that Khaki and his companions have conspired to defraud the United States of America by submitting false documents to smuggle hi-tech materials, including twenty (20) tons of specialized steel from the US in order to deliver the items to Iran. Many of these materials have nuclear applications, including the 20 tons of specialized steel, which is particularly suited for gas centrifuges used in uranium enrichment.

        Khaki and others were indicted by the District Court of Columbia for six (6) counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States of America, one of which was by interfering with and obstructing a lawful government function by deceit, craft, trickery and dishonest means in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; and to export and cause the exportation from the United States to Iran in violation of Title 50, United States Code, Section 1705 and Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 560.230 and 560.204;

    Some of the other counts pertain to fraudulent export from the United States, merchandise, articles and objects, namely -- twister lathes in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 2 and 554; wilfull violation of the United States laws regarding the embargo against Iran by exporting/causing to export from the US to Iran, namely nickel alloy 120 in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 2 and 554.

   Khaki and others were also indicted in District of Columbia for smuggling, in violation of United States Code, Section 554; violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in violation of title 50 of the United States Code, Section 1705 and conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 1956.

   On May 23, 2012, the Department of Justice transmitted to the NBI Director thru the Chief, FLD, a letter request dated March 22, 2012, of the United States Department of Justice with the enclosed copy of "indictment" and "warrant of arrest" issued by the United States District of Columbia. On the same day, NBI FLD agents applied for an Urgent Ex-Parte Application for Provisional Arrest of Khaki. Thereafter, it was served to Parvis Khaki as prelude to a formal request of his extradition to the US issued by the Manila RTC Branch 31.

  The Order was served to Khaki before his departure at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I to Qatar via Qatar Airways Flight QR 649. Khaki was immediately brought to the NBI where he is presently detained.

 The Department of Justice and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran were informed accordingly.