The trial of former Quebec Lieutenant Governor Lise Thibault has begun in Quebec City.
She is charged with fraud and breach of trust in connection with expense claims during her ten years in office, from 1997 to 2007.
Tax investigators allege Thibault claimed over $700,000 in unjustified expenses.
Thibault had tried to dodge the case by claiming in court -- unsuccessfully -- that as Lieutenant Governor she was able to invoke royal immunity from prosecution.
The Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear her case, thereby forcing her to go to court.
In superior court Wednesday, Thibault’s lawyer made a request about the possibility of partial immunity.
Two other requests were made: one, to obtain a copy of a tax analysis document prepared for the Prosecutor General of Quebec by an outside firm.
“It was not divulged in the civil case either. So it leads me to think that the reason why the state is not using this report, maybe because it is favorable to my client so I want to have it to prepare my cross examination and prepare the trial,” said Thibault’s lawyer Marc Labelle.
And two, because the preliminary inquiry judge dismissed some of the allegations, Labelle wants to know exactly which transactions he has to defend.
The original list included allegations Thibault paid off a personal credit card, and that she claimed money for family expenses that were not allowed.
The Quebec government is also trying to claim $90,000 from Thibault in a separate civil trial.
