The preliminary inquiry began Tuesday for former long-time Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt and 35 co-accused in a large-scale corruption case involving kickbacks, favoritism, and illegal political donations.
Most of the defendants are contractors, such as Tony Accurso, engineers and lawyers close to the former administration. Vaillancourt, former Laval engineer Claude Deguise and ex-director-general Claude Asselin face gangsterism, fraud and corruption charges.
Faced with mounting pressure as the corruption allegations mounted, Vaillancourt resigned on Nov. 9, 2012 after 23 years in power. He and his alleged accomplices were arrested in 2013.
The defendants and their 40 lawyers took up so much room that journalists were forced to watch the proceedings from the jurors’ seats.
The proceedings, which aim to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, are expected to last eight weeks. A trial would begin in 2016 or 2017.
“We're convinced they'll be sent to trial on all counts,” said prosecutor Richard Rougeau.
Defendants Normand Bedard, Daniel Lavallee, Francois Perrault and Laval Gagnon renounced their right to a preliminary inquiry and opted to go straight to trial.
A publication ban is in effect, but much of the testimony is expected to resemble what was heard during the Charbonneau Commission hearings.
Former construction executive Gilles Theberge, who testified at the Charbonneau Commission, is expected to be the first witness to take the stand.
During those proceedings, Theberge accused Vaillancourt of controlling a system of contract rigging in Laval.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
