Government claims it was unaware of Ali Reza Ziba Halat Monfared’s legal troubles before January 2016

​Foreign Minister, Francine Baron, has said that the Government of Dominica was unaware that ex-Dominican diplomat and Iranian national, Ali Reza Ziba Halat Monfared, was in legal trouble, and that he was a person of interest to law enforcement authorities in Iran, before January 2016. She was responding to questions posed by Opposition Leader Lennox Linton in Parliament on Tuesday.
 
Linton asked how did the government become aware that Monfared was a person of interest to the authorities in Iran, on or before January, 20, 2015. In response, Baron noted that in or about January 2016, the government became aware “informally” of a dispute between Monfared and a business partner in Malaysia “which resulted in complaints being made against him to the police.” She added, “It was decided then, that in the circumstances, it would not be in Dominica’s best interest, that he continues to represent our interests”.
 
Monfared was arrested after an international manhunt in the Dominican Republic, on allegations of involvement in Iran’s biggest-ever corruption scandal. Prior to that, he lived in Dominica for some time. He was issued a Dominica Diplomatic Passport in March 2015. Government said his diplomatic passport was revoked in January 2016.
 
Reports indicate that Monfared had various passports, and had escaped extradition when he was briefly detained in Malaysia; but controversy deepened, when photos of him surfaced, hosting lavish gatherings for Dominican officials in Malaysia. After Monfared’s arrest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dominica said due diligence was done, in granting him a diplomatic passport.
 
However, Monfared’s matter was just one, in a series of embarrassing situations, where Dominica appointed Diplomats who found themselves in trouble with the law, and focused the international spotlight on Dominica. Others include Chinese billionaire Ng Lap Seng and former Nigerian minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
 
Under that spotlight, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit address the nation, and expressed regret over events pertaining to some people who were appointed diplomats of Dominica. He then stated that a new policy will guide the government in appointing diplomats in the future.