Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC) made 14 arrests and laid 47 charges in a series of early morning raids on Tuesday north of Montreal.
The arrests include construction magnate Tony Accurso, who was taken into custody as investigators searched locations in Terrebonne, Mascouche and Laval. A warrant was also issued for Mascouche Mayor Richard Marcotte, who was on vacation in Cuba.
"The arrests and searches came after a 1½-year investigation, which allowed us to establish that a system had been put in place a few years ago allowing certain companies to gain an advantage towards the attribution of municipal contracts," said Quebec provincial police Lt. Guy Lapointe.
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Former Montreal opposition leader Benoît Labonté admitted to accepting $100,000 from Accurso to fund his bid for leadership of his civic party. The admission has all but destroyed Labonté’s political career.
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Links between Marcotte and a developer were first reported by Radio-Canada two years ago, after he apparently received $40 million in contracts with the town between 2000 and 2009.