MONTREAL -- A criminal case against a man described as the "central figure" in the federal sponsorship scandal has been put off so he can find a lawyer.
Jacques Corriveau appeared in a Montreal courtroom today where he told a judge he didn't have a lawyer because he was denied legal aid.
Corriveau, a longtime federal Liberal organizer, is facing charges that include fraud against the government, forgery and laundering proceeds of crime.
The Mounties allege that Corriveau set up a kickback system on contracts awarded during the sponsorship program and used his Pluri Design Canada Inc. firm to defraud the federal government.
The case returns to court on June 20 when Corriveau will ask the judge to free up some of his frozen assets to help pay for a lawyer willing to represent him.
Police said Corriveau alleged he could exert influence on the federal government to ensure certain Quebec-based firms received lucrative contracts in exchange for several million dollars in kickbacks and benefits for himself and others.
