Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

EX-SNC senior executive Ben Aissa extradited to Canada to face fraud charges

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Oct, 2014 11:45 AM

    MONTREAL - A former SNC-Lavalin senior executive accused of fraud in a superhospital project arrived in Montreal on Wednesday after his extradition from Switzerland.

    The head of Quebec's anti-corruption unit said Riadh Ben Aissa, SNC's former head of construction, was detained by provincial police.

    His return came two weeks after Swiss authorities announced they had accepted a deal reached Aug. 4 and sentenced him to the 29 months he'd served in jail and ordered him to repay millions of dollars to the company.

    In Canada, authorities laid 16 fraud-related charges against Ben Aissa in February 2013 in connection with the McGill University Health Centre, one of Canada's largest infrastructure projects.

    He and several other people, including former SNC chief executive Pierre Duhaime, allegedly committed fraud of $22.5 million in exchange for the company landing the $1.3-billion contract.

    Arthur Porter, the former head of the MUHC, remains in a Panama jail fighting extradition to Canada on accusations he was involved in the alleged fraud.

    In Switzerland, Ben Aissa was accused of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

    The charges stemmed from SNC-Lavalin's business in Libya. Ben Aissa acknowledged in court that he bribed Saadi Gadhafi, son of Libya's late dictator, Moammar Gadhafi, so SNC could win contracts. Ben Aissa also admitted to pocketing commissions.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Trial dates for Nelson Hart expected to be set next month in prison incident

    Trial dates for Nelson Hart expected to be set next month in prison incident
    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The case of a Newfoundland man released from prison after murder charges were dropped will return to court next month to set trial dates on separate charges.

    Trial dates for Nelson Hart expected to be set next month in prison incident

    Activists plan court challenge to 'anti-democratic' Fair Elections Act

    Activists plan court challenge to 'anti-democratic' Fair Elections Act
    OTTAWA - The Council of Canadians and the Canadian Federation of Students will ask the courts to overturn parts of the Harper government's Fair Elections Act.

    Activists plan court challenge to 'anti-democratic' Fair Elections Act

    Conservative changes to EI could cost Canada jobs, Budget watchdog warns

    Conservative changes to EI could cost Canada jobs, Budget watchdog warns
    OTTAWA - The Harper government's $550-million small-business job credit will create just 800 net new jobs in 2015-16, while a freeze in employment insurance premiums could cost the economy 10,000 jobs over the same period, Canada's parliamentary budget office says.

    Conservative changes to EI could cost Canada jobs, Budget watchdog warns

    RCMP investigating suspected extremists heading abroad, returning from fights

    RCMP investigating suspected extremists heading abroad, returning from fights
    OTTAWA - The RCMP has about 63 active security investigations on 90 suspected extremists who intend to join fights abroad or who have returned to Canada, said Bob Paulson, commissioner of the national police force.

    RCMP investigating suspected extremists heading abroad, returning from fights

    Ex-premier Danny Williams sues newspaper alleging he was defamed in editorial

    Ex-premier Danny Williams sues newspaper alleging he was defamed in editorial
    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Danny Williams is suing the Telegram daily newspaper in St. John's for defamation.

    Ex-premier Danny Williams sues newspaper alleging he was defamed in editorial

    Canada to step up border checks for Ebola; will use targeted temperature screens

    Canada to step up border checks for Ebola; will use targeted temperature screens
    TORONTO - Canada will step up border screening to try to prevent an Ebola importation to this country, federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose said Wednesday.

    Canada to step up border checks for Ebola; will use targeted temperature screens