Former deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau’s fraud case delayed

QUEBEC CITY – The fraud case against former Quebec deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau and six others has been put off until July.

READ MORE: ‘No one is above the law,’ Quebec City politicians react to Normandeau arrest

Crown prosecutors and lawyers for the seven accused agreed Wednesday in a Quebec City courtroom to delay proceedings so the defence could study the evidence.

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Authorities claim the accused were part of a scheme that included exchanging political financing and gifts for lucrative government contracts.

READ MORE: Liberals turn to Quebec Chief Electoral Officer to determine illegal party donations

Charges include corruption, fraud toward the government, conspiracy, breach of trust and using forged documents.

The alleged crimes happened between 2000 and 2012.

READ MORE: Quebec government will implement some Charbonneau recommendations

Also facing charges are:

• Marc-Yvan Côté, former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister
• Bruno Lortie, Normandeau’s former chief of staff
• Mario Martel and France Michaud, two former executives with engineering firm Roche
• Ernest Murray, former political aide to ex-Parti Québécois (PQ) leader Pauline Marois
• Francois Roussy, former mayor of Gaspé

*with files from The Canadian Press.