MONTREAL – The Contrecoeur corruption trial involving former high-ranking city officials is set to begin Monday.
The scandal centres around an alleged fraud scheme involving the Faubourg Contrecoeur housing development project.
The property was sold in 2007 from the city to the Catania construction company for $4.4 million, even though it was valued at $31 million.
Investigators suspected city officials were sharing secret information with companies bidding for the public contract, and those involved were given money and gifts.
Among the accused are former Montreal city councillor Frank Zampino, big-time real estate developer Paolo Catania and Bernard Trépanier, the former fundraising director for Union Montreal, then-mayor Gérald Tremblay‘s party.
Also named were Martin D’Aoust, Pascal Patrice, André Fortin, Daniel Gauthier, Pasquale Fedele and Construction Frank Catania & Associates Inc.
The charges include fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust.