Quebec’s chief Crown prosecutor expressed sympathy Wednesday for investors who are outraged that one of Canada’s biggest fraud cases ended in a mistrial.
Jurors concluded Tuesday that the Norbourg case was far too complex for them to reach a unanimous verdict of fraud against five alleged co-conspirators.
Chief prosecutor Louis Dionne said in a statement that that the massive fraud case is not closed, though he wouldn’t say if or when there might be a second trial.
“(I) understand the disappointment of the fraud victims,” said Dionne.
“But please be reminded that the jury’s disagreement is not an acquittal and that the file is still before the courts.”
Dionne said prosecutors will take note of the jury’s concerns before deciding how to proceed. A decision will be made in the next few weeks.
Details
Some 9,200 Norbourg investors lost more than $100 million.
The five defendants are alleged co-conspirators of convicted fraudster Vincent Lacroix, who ran the Norbourg group of companies. They are:
• External auditor Remi Deschambault,
• Comptroller Jean Cholette,
• Former Norbourg directeur Serge Beugre,
• Ex-bureaucrat Jean Renaud,
• And computer technician Felicien Souka.
Lacroix was sentenced last October to 13 years in jail after pleading guilty to 200 fraud-related charges.
