Vancouver man who hosted large parties sentenced again for violating COVID-19 rules

VANCOUVER – Police in Vancouver say a man convicted of breaking COVID-19 restrictions earlier this year has been sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to more charges.

Const. Tania Visintin says in a statement that Mohammad Movassaghi was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of failing to comply with a health order and one count of selling liquor.

Visintin says the 43-year-old man pleaded guilty, was fined $10,000 and was sentenced to 29 days in jail and 12 months of probation.

The charges relate to an investigation that began after it was alleged Movassaghi was violating court-imposed conditions linked to his earlier conviction.

Movassaghi was convicted in April for hosting large parties in his downtown Vancouver penthouse, despite provincial orders limiting indoor gathering sizes to slow the spread of COVID-19.

He was sentenced to one day in jail, fined $5,000 and given 18 months probation.

The director of civil forfeiture also filed a claim in B.C. Supreme Court in September alleging Movassaghi’s $2.8 million condo was used to engage in unlawful activities and should be forfeited.

None of the allegations in the claim have been proven in court.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2021.