Individual Charged Criminally with Falsifying an Employment Record and Uttering a Forged Document Following Investigation by JSOT

TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) announced today that Ms. Zahra Pourebrahimi Khalkhali of Richmond Hill, Ontario has been charged with alleged breaches of the Criminal Code of Canada following an investigation by the OSC's Joint Serious Offences Team (JSOT).

Khalkhali was charged with one count of Uttering a Forged Document and one count of Falsifying an Employment Record. Khalkhali is also known as Raheleh Pourebrahimi.

It is alleged that Khalkhali, who was previously registered to sell securities, forged her National Registration Database (NRD) employment record to show that she had resigned from previous employment.  In fact, she had been dismissed for cause after allegedly forging a client signature on a mortgage document. It is further alleged that Khalkhali uttered the falsified record when applying for new employment at a firm registered to sell securities.

"This individual's actions were clearly aimed at deceiving a prospective employer," said Tom Atkinson, Director of Enforcement at the OSC. "We uncovered this deception and will continue to work through the Joint Serious Offences Team to protect investors, by bringing criminal charges as appropriate."

The first court appearance for Khalkhali in this matter is scheduled to take place December 17, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom # 205 at Ontario Court of Justice, 50 Eagle Street, Newmarket, Ontario.

JSOT was established by the OSC as an enforcement partnership between the OSC and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Financial Crime program. The primary objective of JSOT is to protect investors and further enhance confidence in the Canadian capital markets through effective enforcement. This is accomplished through collaborative investigations of serious violations of the law using the provisions of the Ontario Securities Act or the Criminal Code of Canada.

Investors are urged to check the registration of any person or company offering an investment opportunity and to review the OSC investor materials available at http://www.osc.gov.on.ca

SOURCE: Ontario Securities Commission