MONTREAL — Hudson is reeling after news that its recently retired general manager may have defrauded the town of over a million dollars.
Former general manager Louise Léger-Villandré was arrested Thursday morning by officers with Quebec’s anti-corruption police unit, UPAC, and is facing charges of fraud, breach of trust and producing and using false documents.
“The alleged charges against Louise Léger Villandré are not trivial: a large sum of money has been diverted from municipal funds during a time that she held a position of influence in the municipal administration,” said UPAC Commissioner Robert Lafrenière in a statement.
“This abuse of trust affects all Hudson residents. Citizens and city officials must continue to be vigilant and to report any irregularities to UPAC.”
Léger-Villandré is facing 19 charges in connection to the period of time when she was the general manager of Hudson between 1997 and 2013.
According to UPAC, she allegedly fraudulently deposited more than $1.1 million worth of municipal cheques into a personal bank account over a period of 17 years.
She has been released on a promise to appear at her next court date, which has been set for Dec. 10 at the Valleyfield courthouse.
Léger-Villandré resigned in April 2013 after 43 years service. Catherine Haulard took over as the new general manager for the town the same year.
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