The Astonishing Life Ride Of Samir Chowieri

Published 01/29/2024 · Updated 01/28/2024

Long-time Bulldog reader, commenter and gumshoe John Langstone found this background piece on Samir Chowieri of Katasa Group. Katasa donated $300,000 through Capital Councillor Shawn Menard for improvements to his ward.

Read this CBC Montreal story and you’ll know why Ottawa City Hall is walking on hot coals and broken glass. This is big:

Samir Chowieri, the president of the group that owns the controversial CHSLD Herron, was convicted in the 1980s of conspiracy for drug trafficking and conspiracy for fraud, according to court documents obtained by Radio-Canada’s Enquête.

At his daily briefing Wednesday, Quebec Premier François Legault called it “unacceptable” that a person convicted of serious crimes ended up running a string of long-term care establishments in the province.

Chowieri immigrated to Canada in 1972, claiming to have only $2,000 to his name, according to Enquête. A few years later, in 1980, two people were arrested trying to cross the Lebanese-Syrian border with 14 kilograms of hashish. RCMP documents showed a Gatineau-area criminal organization was involved.

To read the whole CBC Montreal story, click here. It’s a page-turner.

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