The Ontario dentist, Dr. Aurash Cohen, has had his license revoked by regulatory authorities after it was revealed that he was operating under a false identity following a conviction for aiding Iran in evading sanctions. This information was brought to light by Global News.
The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario confirmed that Dr. Cohen’s license was officially rescinded on November 20, barring him from practicing in the province. The college spokesperson refrained from sharing specific case details, but emphasized that all prospective dentists must disclose their criminal history in any jurisdiction when applying for registration in Ontario.
The spokesperson, Lesley Byrne, added that the application form is a legally binding document where dentists must attest to the accuracy of the information they provide.
The revocation of Dr. Cohen’s license came six weeks after Global News reported that the dentist was actually Arash Yousefijam, an Ontario resident who confessed to running an operation in 2021 to bypass Iranian sanctions. Together with his brother, Amin Yousefijam, they exported sensitive manufacturing equipment to Iran. Both brothers pleaded guilty to sanctions evasion charges in the U.S. and served their sentences.
After serving their sentences, the brothers were returned to Canada where they changed their names to Aurash and Ameen Cohen using the Ontario name change system. Under their new identities, Aurash Cohen graduated from McGill University and became a dentist in June, while Ameen Cohen was employed as a corporate compliance officer.
However, their plan fell apart when immigration officials initiated deportation proceedings against Amin Yousefijam, who entered Canada under the Skilled Workers Program as an Iranian citizen. The Canada Border Services Agency revealed the brothers’ name changes in documents submitted to the Immigration and Refugee Board.
A deportation hearing for Amin Yousefijam has been scheduled to take place in Toronto on February 25. The CBSA contends that the resident of Richmond Hill, Ontario, poses a security threat to Canada.
Despite Arash Yousefijam being a naturalized Canadian citizen and not subject to deportation, he did not respond to an email requesting comment. In a prior response, he claimed he had “paid his dues.”
Byrne stated that anyone applying to practice dentistry in Ontario must demonstrate that their past and present conduct indicates they will practice “with decency, integrity, and honesty and in accordance with the law.” The regulation also stipulates that if an applicant makes a false or misleading statement or representation in their application, they are deemed not to have met the requirements for the issuing of a certificate of registration.
The Ontario government is said to be considering reforming its name change policies to prevent those convicted of severe offenses such as international sanctions violations from concealing their pasts.
Iran is seen as a major source of instability in the Middle East. It leads a so-called “axis of resistance” which includes Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and Hamas, which carried out an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Iranian regime has also been linked to several recent assassination plots targeting dissidents living abroad and critics of the Islamic Republic.
