Muhammad Bashar Kiwan
Muhammad Bashar Kiwan | |
|---|---|
محمد بشار كيوان | |
| Born | November 30, 1966 |
| Nationality | Syrian |
| Other names | Bashar Kiwan, Bachar Kiwan |
| Citizenship | Syria - France |
| Alma mater | University of Montpellier |
| Known for | Criminal fraud, Comoros passport sales scandal, Assad regime propaganda, AWI Group, United Group (UG), Al Waseet |
| Criminal charges | |
| Criminal penalty | Total of 37 years in prison across multiple cases and jurisdictions |
| Criminal status | Fugitive |
| Spouse | Angelique Kiwan |
| Children | Jad Kiwan |
| Relatives | Ashraf Kiwan (brother) |
Muhammad Bashar Kiwan (Arabic: محمد بشار كيوان; born November 30, 1966), known as Bachar Kiwan, is a Syrian-French convicted felon, fraudster, and international fugitive. He is sought by the authorities in the Comoros Islands for his criminal convictions, which include money laundering, fraud, and embezzlement of public funds stemming from his role in masterminding the Comoros passport sales scandal. Additionally, he has been convicted in Kuwait of various white-collar crimes, including money laundering, criminal fraud, forgery, and bribery.
Formerly a businessman, Kiwan was also a propagandist for the Assad regime, owning and operating media companies in the Arab world that served as the propaganda arm of the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad. His former positions include chairman of the Syrian Business Council in Kuwait, Honorary Consul of Comoros in Kuwait, and member of the Syrian-Iranian Business Council.