Former Montreal Executive Committee Head Denies Corruption in Second Trial
Frank Zampino, former second-in-command to Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay, denies involvement in a bid-rigging scheme at his second corruption trial after the first was stayed due to unconstitutional wiretap evidence.
Former Montreal Executive Committee Head Denies Corruption in Second Trial
Frank Zampino, who served as Montreal's executive committee chair from 2001 to 2008, took the witness stand Thursday to reject allegations that he orchestrated a municipal contract bid-rigging scheme.
The prosecution contends that Zampino established a system allowing 13 engineering firms to divide 34 public contracts worth a combined $160 million between 2004 and 2009. In exchange, the firms allegedly contributed three per cent of each contract's value to Zampino's political party, Union Montreal, plus an initial entry fee ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.
Under oath, Zampino flatly denied any wrongdoing. "I have never participated in any form of collusion or bid-rigging scheme in any way or any circumstance," he told the court. "I have never orchestrated any such scheme. I have never fixed the outcome of any public tender."
Zampino testified that he first learned of the alleged contract-sharing arrangement during testimony at the Charbonneau commission in 2013. He acknowledged meeting with engineering firm executives during his tenure, explaining that elected officials routinely hear from constituents whose files are stalled within the bureaucracy.
He also admitted attending Montreal Canadiens games and concerts at the Bell Centre in corporate boxes provided by engineering firms and other businesses, but stated he was never asked to pay for those tickets and never offered reimbursement. "This was a practice that was in force for many years," he said.
Four co-accused face related charges: former city public works director Robert Marcil, and engineering firm executives Kazimierz Olechnowicz, Bernard Poulin, and Normand Brousseau.
This marks the second trial for Zampino and his co-accused. The initial proceedings ended in 2017 when a judge stayed the case after determining that investigators had gathered unconstitutional wiretap evidence, including recordings of the accused speaking with their attorneys. The Quebec Court of Appeal later ruled that while the wiretaps were indeed unconstitutional, the violation did not warrant a stay, and ordered a new trial excluding that evidence. The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear a further appeal last year, leading to the current trial which began in February.
Earlier in the proceedings, former Groupe Séguin engineering head Michel Lalonde testified that during the Tremblay administration, Zampino was widely known as "the person to see" to secure lucrative city contracts.
Source: CBC News
Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)