Some Montreal politicians were shocked while others were satisfied that a former mayor of Montreal has been convicted of corruption.
On Thursday a judge found Michael Applebaum guilty on eight of 14 counts of corruption, breach of trust, and conspiracy.
The crimes were committed during Applebaum's tenure as borough mayor of Cote des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grace, a post he held for more than ten years.
Long-time councillor Marvin Rotrand, who has represented the district of Snowdon for decades and worked with Applebaum for most of that time, was shocked at the verdict.
"It's a terrible situation for his family. They've lived a nightmare over the last number of years. Michael has always maintained his innocence. I don't know what he and his lawyer will do but I know this put a great deal of pressure on him and as such financially it just about ruined his family. They've right through this process worked to prove his innocence. The judge obviously felt otherwise," Rotrand said.
Rotrand said he has spoken to Applebaum occasionally since his arrest, and said the case took its toll on Applebaum and his family.
"He couldn't really work. He tried to do some work in real estate but every time he tried to make a living there were people complaining to the media, almost as if he didn't have a right to make a living and support his family," said Rotrand.
Meanwhile Mayor Denis Coderre said Applebaum's actions were just one of several acts of corruption that took place during the former administration.
"Justice has been done. I've been in politics, municipal politics because we wanted to clean up the house. We made sure that we put up some benchmarks and some tools to protect the interests of Montrealers. When we created the Inspector General it was for exactly that reason," said Coderre.
Valerie Plante, leader of opposition party Projet Montreal, was pleased that Applebaum was convicted, and said it sends a message that nobody is above the law.
In CDN-NDG several people were relieved that a politician has been found guilty of corruption, although emotions were mixed since Applebaum was the first Jew to become Mayor of Montreal, and the first anglophone Mayor in a century.
Applebaum was first elected as a city councillor in 1994. In 2002 he became borough mayor of CDN-NDG, and in November 2012 he was chosen as interim mayor of Montreal following the abrupt resignation of Gerald Tremblay.
Applebaum was arrested less than a year later, in June 2013.
He will be sentenced on Feb. 15, 2017 after being found guilty on eight counts.
