Decision Released From the Ontario Court of Appeal

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 12, 2011) - The Ontario Court of Appeal today released its decision on the appeals filed by Mahmoud Yadegari, 37. The Court upheld the convictions, and decreased his sentence by three months.

He was sentenced on July 29, 2010 in the Ontario Court of Justice to 20 months in jail in addition to 15½ months of pre-sentence custody, for attempting to export nuclear-related dual-use items without first obtaining the required permits. Because the Court granted double credit for pre-sentence custody, this amounts to a four-year, three-month sentence.

On July 6, 2010, he was found guilty of nine charges, including offences under the Customs Act, the United Nations Act, the Export and Import Permits Act, the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and the Criminal Code. He was acquitted of one count of forgery.

On March 4, 2009, Mahmoud Yadegari attempted to export controlled material to Iran. The goods, known as pressure transducers, are subject to a United Nations embargo on nuclear-related exports to Iran. They are also on Canada's Export Control List, established pursuant to the Export and Import Permits Act. He has been in custody since his arrest.

The PPSC is responsible for prosecuting offences under federal jurisdiction in a manner that is free of any improper influence and that respects the public interest. The PPSC is also responsible for providing prosecution-related advice to law enforcement agencies across Canada.