Add CategoryTERRORIST Man Haron Monis was placed on an ASIO watchlist in 2008 because the spy agency had been alerted to his previous “activities†in Iran in the mid-90s.Monis is said to have come to the attention of authorities at the time when began sending offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
However, The Daily Telegraph has learned that the demented extremist was only put on an intelligence ‘watchlist’ after agencies began digging into his past life in Iran.
Monis came to Australia in 1996 seeking asylum, a year after the US slapped a new round of crippling sanctions on Iran.
Senior intelligence sources confirmed that there were “other matters†that had prompted ASIO to take an interest in him — believed to be political — and involving the “Stateâ€.
“It has to do with his activities in Iran, before he came to Australia,†the senior intelligence source said.
However, at the time it was not believed that he constituted a national security threat in Australia.
Iranian authorities sought Man Monis’s extradition in 2000, four years after he arrived in Australian seeking political asylum.
The head of Iran’s police force has reported that Monis was wanted over extensive fraud allegations associated with his Iranian travel agency. Monis was not deported, however, because Australia did not have an extradition treaty with Iran.
The self-styled ‘sheik’ a dole recipient, became known to ASIO and other intelligence agencies in the late 2000s.
His “extremist behaviour†and long criminal history, made him suspicious to intelligence agencies.
Monis arrived in Australia as a refugee from Iran in 1996, and apparently alarm bells were ringing about his dangerous past even before he reached out shores.
According to Fars News International, Iran’s government news agency, he had stolen $US200,000 from people applying for travel visas when he was working in a local travel agency, and used that money to flee to Australia.
Monis was granted political asylum in Australia in 2001.
The Iranian State Department warned Australia about Monis before he arrived in the country.
“We told Australia about this criminal 20 years ago†a department spokesman said in the Iranian government press.
“The psychological condition of the person who took refuse in Australia two decades ago has been discussed several times with the Australian officials,†a spokeswoman for the Iranian foreign ministry said.
“The situation of the hostage taker had been completely clear to the Australian related officials.â€
Originally published as Killer on watchlist as criminal past exposed