Montreal Gazette

Trépanier seeks trial release due to illness

- LINDA GYULAI

The lawyer for former municipal political fundraiser Bernard Trépanier, one of the accused in the Contrecoeu­r fraud case, says he’s seeking to have his client released from having to stand trial because he’s ill.

Lawyer Daniel Rock told the court at a management hearing in the case on Thursday that he intends to file a motion to release Trépanier, who has cancer, until such time he is medically fit to stand trial.

A hearing on the motion was scheduled on Thursday for Feb. 23. Trépanier’s oncologist may testify.

Trépanier faces charges of fraud, conspiracy, fraud against the government and breach of trust in connection with the 2007 sale of city-owned land known as Faubourg Contrecoeu­r to a constructi­on firm at a discounted price.

His trial is scheduled to begin on April 3.

Trépanier was arrested in 2012 with former city executive committee chairman Frank Zampino, constructi­on entreprene­ur Paolo Catania and others in connection with the sale.

Their trial by judge alone began in February 2016. However, Trépanier was ordered a separate trial from his co-accused after he began cancer treatments in 2016.

An accused person is given the right to assist in his own defence.

Trépanier was chief fundraiser for Zampino and former mayor Gérald Tremblay’s Union Montreal party, which was in power at city hall for a decade.

Meanwhile, final arguments in the trial of Zampino, Catania and four former executives with Constructi­on Frank Catania et Associés Inc. are to be heard in February.

Trépanier and Zampino were also arrested last September, with former civil servant Robert Marcil and five former heads or employees of engineerin­g consulting firms. They face charges of municipal corruption, fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada