Prior fraud conviction almost led to deportation of one Via Rail terror suspect
OTTAWA – Fraud-related convictions almost led to the deportation of one of the men charged in an alleged plot to attack a Via Rail passenger train.
Newly released immigration documents show federal authorities wanted to deport Raed Jaser in 2004 — something that proved difficult because he was a stateless Palestinian.
Jaser, 35, of Toronto, and Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal, face charges in what the RCMP says was a terrorist plot guided by al-Qaida in Iran.
Jaser came to Canada with his family as a teenager in 1993.
However, unlike his parents and siblings, he was unable to obtain Canadian citizenship due to criminal convictions, including acts of fraud in 1997.
Jaser was arrested in August 2004 after authorities issued a warrant for his removal from Canada.
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