TORONTO — Following a hearing, Mazdak Anvari’s application to extend time to file an appeal was denied and the sentence of 18 months incarceration was affirmed.

On June 25, 2008, Mazdak Anvari and 1091873 Ontario Inc. operating as One Step Travel, Student Escape Tours and Parsia Travel (‘One Step Travel’) were convicted of three counts each of trust accounting violations. Anvari was sentenced to 18 months in jail and 1091873 Ontario Inc. was fined $50,000. The closure of One Step Travel resulted in approximately $1,000,000 in claims being paid by the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund.

On May 13, 2014, Anvari made an application to extend time to file an appeal on his own behalf. Pursuant to section 5(1) (2) of Ontario Regulation 723/94 made under the Courts of Justice Act, the appeal should be filed within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed from. The Honourable Justice V. Loignon, of the Ontario Court of Justice, denied the Application stating that Anvari did not satisfy the test for granting the application.

As the conviction and the sentence imposed on One Step Travel have not been appealed, the $50,000 fine imposed against One Step Travel also remains in force.