The Khaibar Khan, And What He Saw: Part Two
[Original version posted on my blog on 19 May 2014 as "Muhammad Ali, Mr. Goody, The Khaibar Khan, And What He Saw: Part II"]In Part One, I presented information about an Iranian fellow who started working as a volunteer at a Los Angeles presidential campaign headquarters for US Senator Robert F. Kennedy on 1 June 1968. In the prior six years, the man was at the center of controversy in US congressional and diplomatic circles due to having made allegations about US foreign aid money to Iran being deposited into the private trust fund of the Shah, for use by the Iranian royal family (and select Western friends) in bribery and other expenses of high living. Before all that, he had a reputation as a fine clothing fetishist with pretensions of being a jet-setter. And he was known to have committed insurance fraud.
His name was Khaibar Gudarzian. He liked to be known as (The) Khaibar Khan, as he claimed to be a chief of the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe. In January of 1967, upon his arrest for public intoxication, he told police that his name was "Mohamed Ali." And in the hotel where he was living in mid-1968, he was known as "Mr. Goody," a shortening of the alternate spelling Goodarzian.
In the wake of Robert Kennedy's murder, Gudarzian came to the attention of the LAPD because he had exhibited questionable behavior while working at RFK headquarters. When interviewed by police, he also claimed to have seen someone on both June 3rd and 4th at campaign headquarters that he believed to be Sirhan Sirhan, in close company with a young woman fitting the description that other witnesses had made of "the girl in the polka dot dress." And he mentioned that on June 4th, he gave a ride home to a young man who asked about getting passes for the Ambassador Hotel. Gudarzian declined to take a polygraph test, and his deportation curtailed further investigation.
We previously caught a glimpse of a Mr. Michael Wayne who was called upon for a few interviews by the police of Los Angeles. In one of the series [p.25], he was asked to comment on his activities before he went to the Ambassador Hotel on the evening of June 4th.
Mr. WAYNE was questioned about his activities prior to going to the hotel. He states he rode from the Kennedy Headquarters on Wilshire Blvd. to the Kennedy Headquarters in Westwood, with three people. One of the people he assumed to be a European newspaper reporter.
He thinks the woman in the car had a broken leg. The car was a Brown 1961-1963 T-Bird.
He does not know the names of the people he rode with. Just two men and one woman.
He cannot remember if he exchanged addresses and names with anyone in the car or not.
This particular inquiry had proven necessary not only because Wayne was starting to look suspiciously like a person of interest in a murder case, but also because Mr. Gudarzian had mentioned giving a young man a ride home on the evening of June 4th. That issue and other relevant matters involving Gudarzian were addressed in a final report [pp. 6-9] of unknown date and authorship (due to the incomplete posting of the record at our source).
"Page #2 Khaibar Khan I-216"
Subject first visit to the Kennedy Headquarters was on 6-1-68 in the afternoon hours. On this date subject registered under his true name Khaibar Khan. He also met a Marguerite Sweeney (I-59) who was in charge of volunteer workers. Subject was then assigned to answering phones and at this time he volunteered numerous names of Tribal Chiefs [Iranian tribal chiefs, presumably-dwd] who were to be in the USA during the month of November 1968. Also the other volunteers who appeared at his desk he would claim as being part of his group and would register them under his address. When individuals would call to volunteer, he would follow this same procedure. It was discovered that there was a total of 24 volunteer card which were made by Khaibar Khan. The majority of these cards were in the same handwriting and contained the same address. The 24 names are listed on the interview of June Isackson (I-80a).
Mr Khan's second visit took place on June 2, 1968 at approximately 2:00pm. At this time Mr Khan was accompanied by his sister (so-called), Maryam Kouchan alias Khan (I-361). Both parties assisted in doing various campaign tasks and left the headquarters at approximately 6:00pm.
He returned on June 3, 1968 at approximately 3:00pm with his daughter, Shirrin Khan. Shirrin Khan was assigned to the answering of phones and general type-clerical work. During the days activities Mr Khan was at the rear exit of the headquarters when he observed a male and female seated in a blue V/W. He states that he also observed a male leaning inside the right window talking to the couple who were seated. At approximately 7:00pm Mr Khan and his daughter left the headquarters walked toward the parked V/W [sic]. Upon approaching the vehicle Mr Khan noticed that the male who was standing outside walked across the street and walked out of sight. When he [Khan] passed the vehicle he glanced inside and he noticed that the girl who was seated inside the vehicle turned her head as if she did not want to be seen.
On June 4, 1968 Mr Khan arrived with sister (Maryam Khan (I-361) and son FElipe Khan (I-292) [sic] at approximately 2:00pm. During his activities Mr Khan was located near the drinking fountain where the coffee stand is located. At this time he observed a female, Cauc, approximately 23/6 years, wearing a short dress with polka dots. He described the dress as white in color and the dots to be the diameter of pennies or smaller. This female appeared to be talking to a male described as male, Cauc, dark complexion, short in height, wearing a jacket described as blue "McGregor" type (windbreaker). He was wearing a white shirt underneath and tight trousers. It appeared that the two parties were talking as they were facing each other and that he noticed movement of their mouths, but due to the distance Mr Khan could not overhear any conversation. Upon approaching the parties he noticed that the female turned her head and looked in the opposite direction. Mr Khan then recognized this couple as being the same [p. 7 of pdf] as seen on 6-3-68 in the blue V/W. At approximately 8:00pm on 6-4-68 Mr Khan and Miss Kouchan left the headquarters. Upon exiting the rear of the headquarters Mr Khan and Miss Kouchan got into their vehicle and drove to the front of the headquarters where they stopped and Mr Khan re-entered. While Mr Khan was inside a male Cauc, early 20's approached Maryam who was still seated in the vehicle and the male asked for a ride. Miss Kouchan recognizing the male as being in the headquarters earlier, agreed to give the person a ride. When Mr Khan returned to the vehicle he noticed the male seated in the rear seat. Inroute [sic] to Santa Monica the conversation between Mr Khan and the male consisted of the male asking for campaign literature of press type passes. Mr Khan refused the male any literature since he had none, but informed him that if he left his name and address he would durnish [sic] him with some at a later time. The male wrote his name and address on a piece of paper and gave the paper to Mr Khan. This male was Michael Wayne (I-1096).
BACKGROUND
Mr Khan became active in the campaign due to his involvement with Robert Kennedy at the time Robert Kennedy was Attorney General.
Mr Khan is an exile from the Country of Iran. He came to the attention of Robert Kennedy through law suits which were filed against the Family of the King of Iran. These suits resulted from 1959 when Mr Khan was involved in a construction job with United States. Mr Khan states when he returned to Iran he was swindled out of money and material by the King. Upon returning to the United States Mr Khan was made a political exile by the King.
Upon returning to the United States Mr Khan started a group named "The United Patriots for Justice". He started a campaign against the King of Iran accusing him of mis-use of foreign aid money. He supposedly is assisted in this venture by various members of the tribes which make up part of Iran.
OFFICERS STATEMENTS
Officers first came in contact with Mr Khaibar Khan as a result of checking volunteer cards at the Kennedy Headquarters. It was brought to officer's attention that numerous volunteer cards were made by the same person due to handwriting. It was also found that the cards (24 in all) had the same address listed on them as Mr Khan's. Upon checking this address it was found that Mr Khan's ex-wife resides at this location.
Mr Khan's ex-wife (Talat Khan I-314) was contacted by Sgt. Sartuche and he was informed that Mrs Khan had been separated for some time and that she was not involved in politics as was her husband. Mrs Khan contacted Khaibar and he in turn notified our department of his whereabouts. An appointment was made for an interview on 6-18-68.
[p. 8, pdf] On June 18, 1968 officers met Mr Khan in the lobby of the Miramar Hotel located on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. He informed officers that he was staying at the Ocean Palms Hotel located at 1215 Ocean Avenue Apt #201 and that he was registered under the name of Mr Goody. During the interview Mr Khan stated his distrust of the present [Johnson] administration and the immigration department. It was evident that Mr Khan didn't want his whereabouts known. He stated that his life was in danger as someone was attempting to kill him. While living in the West Los Angeles area he was leaving his ex-wife's apartment when unknown suspects jumped him and Mr Khan received various injuries. Due to this incident Mr Khan received surgery and had to wear a cast on his arm. This incident was reported to the West Los Angeles Detectives. In April 1968 he and his sister, Maryam Kouchan, were horseback riding in Griffith Park at which time his sister got shot in the leg by an unknown assailant and required surgery. This disabled Miss Kouchan and it was necessary for her to use crutches in able to walk [sic].
Due to the above, both Sgt. Sartuche and Officer Miller were given nicknames (golfer and tennis player) to use when further contacting Mr Khan by telephone. On further meetings, in person, officers were to meet Mr Khan at other places than at his residence. These places were coffee shops, parks, beaches etc.
Officers first interview with Khaibar Khan was on June 18, 1968 and the last contact was made on July 27, 1968. During this time five contacts were made and officers learned that Mr Khan is involved in law suits with the King of Iran. Because Mr Khan had numerous papers from the United States Senate, United States Department of Justice along with letters from a organization called the United Patriots for Justice, officers found that the United Patriots for Justice is an organization headed by Mr Khan and is made up of different tribes located in Iran. Mr Khan gave his permission for officers to make copies of these documents, which we did.
After the first visit officers found through the Immigration Department that Khaibar Khan, alias Goodarzian had a Immigration Warrant outstanding. The warrant was for Illegal Entry (remaining beyond specified time), Warrant #A-11-011142, no bail. It was also found out through R & I that Mr Khan was using the alias of Mohammad Ali and had an arrest on 1-13-67 for 657F in Hollywood. (LA#025 805A).
The only information received which is relevant to the Kennedy assassination was that on June 3, 1968 Mr Khan observed a male and female sitting in a blue V/W at the rear of headquarters. He described the female as Fe, Cauc 23/6 years, 5-5 and the male as dark comp, short.
[p. 9, pdf] On June 4, 1968 Mr Khan as a telephone operator at the headquarters again observed the male and female that he had seen sitting in the V/W. The couple was observed standing near the coffee shop area. The male and female were facing each other and it appeared to Mr Khan that the couple were talking to each other as their mouths appeared to be moving. At this time the girl was described as wearing a white dress with dark polka dots about the diameter of a penny. The male was described as wearing a blue jacket (McGregor type) with a white shirt and light colored tight trousers.
Due to the people seen on two different occasions by Mr Khan he was shown mugs [mugshots] of suspect Sirhan B. Sirhan and asked if he could identify him as being the male seen. Mr Khan stated that he could not be sure until he could actually see the male in person. Mr Khan was asked if he would attend a show-up if it could be arranged and would he then take a polygraph test to verify the truthfulness of his statements. Mr Khan refused to take a polygraph test or attend a show-up and stated that he wanted to be 100% sure before he accused anyone. During all the interview with Mr Khan he was always unsure of his identification of Sirhan B. Sirhan.
Due to Mr Khan refusing to attend a line up or take a polygraph test it is very doubtful or simply a mistake in identity.
It was later found out by officers that Mr Khan was arrested by Immigration authorities and is presently on $4,000.00 bail pending a hearing.
Several matters come to mind. The report states that "the last contact [of Gudarzian by police] was made on July 27, 1968," and there were five total contacts, of which we know directly of three (in reports). But the report of June 24, 1968 [p. 3] indicates Gudarzian's arrest on over-staying his visa (possibly by several years, by the way). That only makes sense if he was arrested very soon after that interview, with two more conducted after his arrest by Immigration authorities. That would also account for further details that were not indicated in previous reports, like making copies of documents, and claims of threats and actual injuries. (The only other alternative would be "updates" added to original reports without being indicated as such?)
Ironically, the reported encounter with Michael Wayne/Wien might be about the only time in this case that anything associated with him was not suspicious. Gudarzian did not identify him as if he knew him, and he did indicate Wien's interest in obtaining "passes" to get around in the Ambassador Hotel. (A detail unlikely to be shared if they were cohorts of some kind.) We would have to accept this account as is without more evidence that neither party actually went home, and that Gudarzian served as chauffeur for Wien's trip to the Ambassador.
The matter of the signing up of the volunteers is seemingly fishy, but it occurs to me it might only be a sign of laziness. Rather than take the time and hassle to get pertinent information, someone might say the hell with it while taking a shot at the ex-wife. The problem is clear-cut: Gudarzian and family had a sudden onset of campaign volunteering spirit, with a simultaneous influx of others not only vouched for by him but registered in a way that made their (alleged) identities hard to trace. Even if Gudarzian's motives were sincere and his actions innocuously intended, the resulting situation would be at least exploitable by others with less charitable intentions.
But what to make of Gudarzian's allegation about a young woman in a polka dot dress in the company of a young man who fit a description of Sirhan Sirhan? By the time of his interview, he could have learned some details about the two suspects and come up with something of his own. (Maybe to take some heat off himself?) In his favor is the detailed quality of his account, with his description of the woman being more or less identical to that of early reports of witnesses at the Ambassador. And he had more reason than most to stay out of the limelight where contact with authorities was concerned. He would seem to have nothing to gain by spreading such a story. And obviously, he did not come forward until being questioned on an issue about his own activities. In that light, we might judge the sincerity of his volunteering in the first place, since his immigration status favored the keeping of a low profile. (My recollection from the documents is that Kennedy himself advised the same to him for that very reason.)
In "Appendix E: Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Investigation Records Audio Tapes" of the LAPD's "Special Unit Senator" report, there is an interview that mentions a woman in a polka dot dress in the company of a "strange" man.
CSA-K84; Groves, Judith; I-375; June 21, 1968: Employee of political consulting firm who was in the lobby when shooting occurred. Says she heard three shots, saw a woman splattered with blood run out, and a wounded man being carried through the lobby. Describes getting into the Embassy Room through the Lautrec Room with the help of a "strange" man. Says the man spoke to two women in a foreign language, and that one of the women was wearing a polka dot dress.
That is only something else to consider, not enough to be anything more than suggestive. A "strange man speaking in a foreign language" would cover a lot of territory. And likewise, "a woman wearing a polka dot dress," which could be any color combination, unlike Gudarzian's specific report of a white dress with black or dark blue polka dots about the size of a penny. Mainly, I just used it as an opportunity to present evidence from an ear-witness located away from the shooting scene who said she heard three shots. (As opposed to, let's say, eight -- almost as if there could've been three shots fired from a larger-caliber weapon than Sirhan's piddly .22.)
In any event, the last mention of Mr. Gudarzian available to me is a Summary of Activities report dated "Thursday, January 16, 1969." It briefly mentions ongoing concerns in Washington, D.C.
Meeting with Chief Houghton, Lt. Keene, Case Prep and Office Staff. Chief Houghton briefed us on Washington and New York trip. The Chief met with William Lynch, Attorney General's Office, Chief of Criminal Investigation Division; Los Angeles U.S. Attorney Matt Byrne; F.B.I. Agent William Nolan; and Attorney General Ramsey Clark; and Warren Christopher and Fred Vinson of the Attorney General's Office. Chief Houghton discussed the status of the investigation with the Attorney General and F.B.I. and learned that they were still slightly concerned over Khaibar Khan's relationship to the case. S.U.S. is going to review his part in the investigation. We are going to dig up more information on Khan's background, source of income etc. We will also try to locate and interview the volunteer workers brought in by Khan to the campaign headquarters. A comparison of times that Sirhan was allegedly seen at the headquarters and his established activities at other times and locations may resolve the allegations.........
In conclusion, my general impression is that Gudarzian was a sincere admirer of Robert F. Kennedy, as Kennedy was thought of as "a true friend of the Iranian people," especially by Iranian students in the US. If that impression is accurate, then there's nothing suspicious as such about Gudarzian and his family getting involved in the campaign, or even anything mysterious about an influx of volunteers sponsored by him. But as previously mentioned, that doesn't mean that someone couldn't have exploited the situation, or manipulated or pressured Gudarzian. Below are a few links and images (lifted from the internets). At the time of my original research, I was unable to find any pictures of Khaibar Khan Gudarzian or his daughter(s), sister, etc. I'm glad to see that's no longer an issue, especially since I now know he and his daughter Shirin bear no resemblance to certain persons of interest I still find suspicious.
I also see that the "WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SHIRIN KHAN" page I previously had linked to now has a "Sorry, the site you requested has been disabled" notice. As I recall, it had some useful information, despite veering off into the realm of Shirin Khan's being "the infamous girl in the polka dot dress" and some evidently inevitable speculation about CIA involvement in Robert Kennedy's assassination. At some point, I might revisit all of the issues but, for now, I'll repeat what I said in Part One: it's entirely unlikely that "the girl in the polka dot dress" could be Shirin when her father is on record describing the woman in reports to police. (A description identical to those of Sandra Serrano and Vincent DiPierro.) And to close, I'll say that I long ago got sick of hearing about Sirhan's "next (hypnosis) memory session(s)" and "rogue American intel agents in the RFK plot(s)."
H.R.H. The Khaibar Khan 1926-1999
A vintage portrait photograph -- now less than $30!
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