Collusion system in Montreal: Zampino, “ultimate authority”, according to the crown

Ex-Numéro 2 of the City of Montreal Frank Zampino may say that he was not aware of any system of collusion in public contracts in the metropolis, he was indeed “the ruling soul and ultimate authority of the stratagem”, pleaded the crown this Thursday.

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“We are in a sophisticated ploy with intelligent people, it’s sneaky. However, [La preuve de la poursuite] demonstrates the existence of a contract for collusion system montreal: zampino, “ultimate new sharing contracts between firms, ”said Mr.^e Nicolas Ammerlaan.

The prosecutor thus asked that Frank Zampino. For example. Furthermore, four co -accused be collusion system montreal: zampino, “ultimate declared guilty of conspiracy and breach of trust in connection with a collusion system so that companies share public contracts in Montreal.

3% royalty

According to the crown thesis. Similarly, between 2004 and 2009, 34 contracts with a total value of $ 160 million was thus granted to certain engineering firms. Furthermore, And to make sure to obtain them. For example. the companies that would have been part of the system had to pay a 3% fee in Union Montréal, led at the time by Gérald Tremblay, via his great Argentier, Bernard Trépanier.

Zampino was then chairman of the city’s executive committee.

collusion system montreal: zampino, “ultimate Former mayor Gérald Tremblay, during his testimony to the trial of Frank Zampino, at the Montreal courthouse. Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin

“A company paid the nearest penny,” pleaded M^e Ammerlaan. Another paid through cocktail tickets. invoices in Bermax [l’entreprise de Trépanier]not just for contracts in Montreal. but to bribe the whole northern crown. ”

According to the arguments of the defense. the money of collusion did not end up in the chests of Union Montréal. but in the pockets of Trépanier, since deceased from cancer. Thus, this whole system would have been organized by the deceased, without the knowledge of Zampino.

Fax incriminants

But the crown is not of this opinion. As proof, incriminating faxes sent by Trépanier to the fax of the Zampino residence, she pleaded this Thursday.

“No contract was safe. at collusion system montreal: zampino, “ultimate new the test of the chairman of the collusion system montreal: zampino, “ultimate executive committee, and no day has passed […] Without having secret and irregular contacts with entrepreneurs, businessmen and managers of the Consulting Engineering firm, argued M^e Ammerlaan. The breach of trust is obvious. “

Fax seized by the police during the searches carried out in the Union Montreal offices. Photo provided by the Court

To demonstrate the guilt of Zampino. his co-accused. Robert Marcil, Bernard Poulin, Kazimir Olechnowicz and Normand Brousseau, the prosecutor also recalled the testimony-chococate of Michel Lalonde, the ex-president of a Consulting Engineer.

The latter claimed to have become the collusion system montreal: zampino, “ultimate “spokesperson” of the Consulting Engineering Firms in collusion system montreal: zampino, “ultimate new 2005. in order to better supervise the ploy “which was not perfect”.

“He testified for six days, there was no contradiction in what he said,” said Mr.^e Amerlaan. The retired engineer. who had also taken the bar for several days during the Charbonneau committee, was never accused of the criminal.

Once its pleadings are completed, the defense will be able to reply. Judge Silvie Kovacevich should subsequently make her decision under deliberation.