In recent months, European and North American authorities have been racing against time to unravel the complex web of deceit, forgery, and money laundering tied to an organized crime network allegedly led by Abbas Sherif AlAskari, and Mohsen Fallahian, Setareh Heshmat, and their networks. The scandal stretches across Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, linking political manipulation, fraudulent identities, illegal residencies, and high-stakes international money laundering.
Alleged Crimes and Deceptive Schemes
1. Investment Frauds and Con Games
o False Investment Offers: Abbas reportedly entices investors by proposing high-return ventures in oil, gas, gold, cocoa, and real estate sectors. With persuasive pitches about connections to European and African markets, he convinces victims to provide substantial upfront payments, claiming these funds will grease political gears for investment approvals.
o Disappearance after Payment: Once he receives the funds, Abbas disappears, leaving investors stranded and without recourse. European and African nations are seeing increased reports from individuals who fell prey to these fraudulent schemes.
2. Money Laundering Across Borders
o Setareh Heshmat's Role: Allegedly, Abbas’s girlfriend Setareh plays a central role, leveraging her international connections and university networks in Vancouver to funnel illegal funds. Her movements and transactions have triggered scrutiny from Canadian authorities, who suspect her involvement in sophisticated money laundering.
o Sister’s Involvement in Canada: Abbas’s sister reportedly operates another branch of this network in Canada, taking advantage of her connections and residency status to facilitate money transfers undetected by financial oversight authorities.
3. Deception through Multiple Identities and Passports
o Three Nationalities, Three Names: Abbas Sherif AlAskari holds passports from Dominica, Iran, and Iraq, each with differing names, which allows him to navigate borders freely. The Dominican passport is particularly valuable for him, as it grants visa-free access to European countries, a privilege he allegedly exploits to evade law enforcement and transport illicit funds.
o Forged Passports and Falsified Residency: Mohsen Fallahian and his brother Ebrahem Fallahian have reportedly acquired Turkish passports through forged documents, with Mohsen allegedly using fraudulent documents to obtain Italian residency.
4. Blackmail and Exploitation of Vulnerable Individuals
o Luring and Blackmailing Women: Abbas’s alleged tactics include luring women into compromising situations. Utilizing micro cameras, he captures sensitive information to later blackmail these individuals, further extending his influence and creating a web of fear among his associates.
5. Political Connections and Background
o Sherif AlAskari’s Influence: Abbas’s father, Sherif AlAskari, carries a strong political history as the son of an Al Dawa Party founding member in Iraq, a political group with a contentious past. This lineage adds further complexity, suggesting potential political influence behind the family’s operations.
6. Illegal Residency in the UK through The Home Office
o Influential Connections and Visa Frauds: Reports allege that Abbas obtained illegal UK residency through connections within the Home Office, facilitated by his sister and brother-in-law. This insider network allowed both Abbas and Mohsen to exploit legal loopholes, securing fraudulent residency and access to EU resources and networks.
Complex Operations across Borders
· Panamanian Oil Routes: Abbas Sherif AlAlskari and Mohsen Fallahian allegedly use a Panamanian vessel to transport oil, changing the origin documents to falsely declare the oil as originating from Iraq, not Iran, allowing them to avoid sanctions and profit from untaxed trade.
· Forging Documents in Turkey and Italy: Mohsen has been implicated in securing Turkish and Italian residencies through forged documents, demonstrating the network’s global reach and commitment to evading international laws.
Authorities Respond: International Collaboration
Law enforcement agencies worldwide, including European and Canadian authorities, have intensified investigations into these cases. The international reach of this network has led to unprecedented collaboration, as detectives work to dismantle the organization’s vast influence. Key strategies include tracking Abbas’s movement across Europe using his Dominican passport and investigating suspicious transactions linked to Setareh Heshmat’s university accounts.
Concluding Thoughts
The syndicate allegedly involving Abbas Sherif AlAskari, Mohsen Fallahian, Setareh Heshmat, and their accomplices paints a chilling portrait of organized crime in today’s globalized world. These individuals exploit everything from political connections to personal relationships, forging a complex web that transcends borders and baffles authorities.
FAQs
1. What are the Allegations against Abbas Sherif AlAskari?
Answer:
Abbas Sherif AlAskari is accused of running an international fraud operation, targeting investors with fake investment opportunities in oil, gas, real estate, and commodities. Utilizing three passports (Dominican, Iranian, and Iraqi) under different names, he has allegedly avoided detection while laundering money across borders. Authorities claim that he exploits his Dominican passport to travel freely within Europe, where he solicits advance payments from investors before disappearing with their funds. His alleged tactics also include blackmailing women with sensitive information obtained through hidden recordings.
2. How is Setareh Heshmat Involved in this Criminal Network?
Answer:
Setareh Heshmat, allegedly the girlfriend of Abbas Sherif AlAskari, is suspected of being a crucial player in the network's money laundering activities. Reports indicate she has used her position as a student in Vancouver to facilitate financial transactions across borders. Setareh's involvement has drawn the attention of Canadian authorities, who are investigating her role in moving funds for Abbas and his associates without raising red flags.
3. Who is Mohsen Fallahian, and Why is He a Key Figure in This Investigation?
Answer:
Mohsen Fallahian is a convicted murderer who has allegedly engaged in various illegal activities alongside Abbas Sherif AlAskari. His history of violent crime, including the murder of a police officer in Tehran, and recent accusations of forgery and document fraud have made him a high-profile target for international law enforcement. Authorities claim that he obtained illegal Turkish passports for himself and his brother, Ebrahem Fallahian, and secured Italian residency through forged documents to continue his operations undetected. Mohsen's criminal record and evasive maneuvers have intensified scrutiny from law enforcement worldwide.
4. What Role Does Sherif AlAskari, Abbas’s Father, Play in This Network?
Answer:
Sherif AlAskari, the father of Abbas Sherif AlAskari, is notable not only for his relationship with Abbas but also for his influential political background. As the son of one of the founding members of the Al Dawa Party in Iraq, Sherif carries a history linked to a politically complex organization. While Sherif himself hasn’t been directly implicated in criminal activities, his political connections are suspected of aiding Abbas’s operations, enabling him to evade authorities and potentially gain access to influential figures.