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City Of Laval Seeks To Recoup Cash From Ex-Mayor Accused Of Corruption

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Oct, 2015 11:46 AM

LAVAL, Que. — A Quebec municipality is suing a number of former officials and business partners in an effort to recoup $12.8 million it claims was lost due to inflated public contracts.

Laval Mayor Marc Demers said a motion was filed in Quebec Superior Court on Monday seeking the amount from several parties including former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, two other former senior city officials and construction company, Nepcon.

Demers says the dollar figure represents the amount officials estimate was overpaid on $64.2 million in contracts doled out between 1997-2009.

Demers said the amount the city is seeking represents roughly 20 per cent of the total amount of the contracts.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Laval's current mayor said he got authorization from Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee to initiate the procedure.

Vaillancourt, former city director Claude Asselin, chief engineer Claude Deguise and two brothers behind Nepcon face charges of conspiracy, fraud and corruption.

Vaillancourt, Asselin and Deguise were arrested in 2013 and also face gangsterism charges.

The trial is not expected before 2019.

Laval is located just north of Montreal and is the third largest municipality in the province.

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