Preliminary hearing for former Laval mayor begins

LAVAL – A preliminary hearing has begun for ex-Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt.

He and 35 co-accused face charges of gangsterism, conspiracy, fraud and breach of trust.

READ MORE: Quebec corruption inquiry ends after 30 months of public hearings

Vaillancourt, who was mayor for 23 years, stepped down in November 2012 amid allegations of corruption for municipal contracts awarded between 1996 and 2010.

He was then arrested in May 2013.

The former Laval mayor has been accused of using his position of power to award contracts to specific companies.

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He is accused of 12 charges including bribery, favouritism, corruption and collusion.

He has denied the allegations.

READ MORE: Members of Gilles Vaillancourt’s ‘inner circle’ ready to testify against former mayor

Former Laval Director General Claude Asselin and former engineering director Claude Deguise will also appear in court.

The hearing is expected to last eight weeks.