Straightforward Extortion

There's nothing quite like the fierce determination of an unscrupulous, conscienceless bully to intimidate, coerce and terrorize people at a disadvantage; to see themselves compelled to bow to the will of the demands placed upon them. Immigrants who have succeeded in fulfilling all the obligations of landed immigrant status and who have attained citizenship have a decided security advantage over those immigrants or visa-holders who arrive in Canada to make their way in a new country.

The new immigrants naturally enough turn with some measure of confidence to those who have arrived in an earlier wave, to rely on them for assistance. Often enough that assistance is given, in small or large ways, to help others. On occasion, there is someone with an ulterior motive who seems on the surface to be willing to help, but the true motivation is the exploitation of the vulnerable.

If, once indebted in some way, the dependent individual expresses some measure of independence, that self-confidence can be deflated very quickly with the expression by the presumed benefactor of the potential of informing immigration authorities of some presumed irregularity that would have the effect of deleteriously impacting on the newer immigrant's legal position in the country.

Which appears to be an explanation for the grip that Ali Karimi, proprietor of a chain of five Zesty Mart stores in the Ottawa area, had over Yashar Kablou. Mr. Karimi caught Mr. Kablou in the commission of what certainly appeared to be a theft. Mr. Kablou explained in court that he was preparing to leave the employ of Mr. Karimi, who owed him back-pay, and was withholding it.

The young man, in Canada on a temporary visa for study and work, surreptitiously dipped into the cash register of the convenience store where he had been employed for ten months, to extract the amount of cash he felt was due him and which his employer, Mr. Karimi, was withholding. His real problems started when Mr. Karimi, who had witnessed through a video camera, what Mr. Kablou was doing, confronted him.

During that confrontation, Mr. Kablou explained his motivation. In response, Mr. Karimi, accused the young man of having stolen money from him on a regular basis, extrapolating the $300 that Mr. Kablou had been apprehended from obtaining, to having taken similar amounts each and every week he had worked for him, for a total of $54,000.

Which Mr. Karimi then demanded to be compensated for, in total. The intimated younger man agreed to everything that his employer accused him of. He testified in court that his employer had forced him to write an admission of guilt. Propelled by fear of his employer. The employer's wife, accused of extortion in regard to two other of their employees, faces charges of criminal harassment in this case as well.

The trial jury had been informed by Mr. Kablou that he had paid Karimi $9,500 in installments before he finally went to police. He had finally been convinced that this was the right thing to do when other employees informed him that Mr. Karimi had worked his extortion techniques on them, as well.

Mr. Karimi has pleaded not guilty to the 15 charges brought against him, inclusive of allegations he extorted or attempted to extort three employees and a woman. Yashar Kablou has had some interesting experiences in a country far from his origins. It will be more than a little interesting to discover how the jury will find; for the accused or for the accuser.

From all accounts appearing in the press, the story appears straightforward enough.