Mascouche mayor released from police custody
Montreal police make 15th arrest in connection with anti-corruption raids this week
CBC News
Posted: Apr 20, 2012 8:44 AM ET
Last Updated: Apr 20, 2012 1:11 PM ET
Related
Related Stories
The mayor of Mascouche has returned home from holidays to face charges in connection to a series of anti-corruption raids earlier this week.
Richard Marcotte was arrested at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport at 1:30 a.m. Friday when he arrived home from a vacation in Cuba.
He was released from police custody before noon after being questioned by police.
A warrant for Marcotte’s arrest was issued Tuesday as Quebec's permanent anti-corruption unit (UPAC) made 14 arrests and laid 47 charges in a series of early morning raids north of Montreal.
Marcotte was the 15th person charged in connection allegations regarding the awarding of contracts in the Mascouche area, north of Montreal.
The investigation started in October 2010 when two witnesses came forward with information about the attribution of contracts, according to provincial police.
Links between Marcotte and a developer were first reported by Radio-Canada two years ago, after he allegedly received $40 million in contracts with the town between 2000 and 2009.
The developer allegedly paid for renovations at the mayor's house in return for those contracts.
Marcotte faces six charges including fraud, conspiracy, breach of trust, defrauding the government and corruption.
He was released from police custody before noon Friday with a promise to appear in court at a later date.
Mascouche city councilor speaks out
Serge Hamelin has been a city councilor in Mascouche for 11 years. He said he is pleased with Marcotte's arrest.
“I was satisfied because I saw that the police department was doing its job. I think this will be the start of the end of that bad story,” Hamelin told the CBC.
Hamelin said he will demand Marcotte's resignation.
Share Tools
Latest Montreal News Headlines
- Quebec Charter of Values could breed intolerance, warn Liberals
- Quebec's citizenship minister today said the province is long overdue in dealing with the issue of accommodations to religious communities. more »
- Quebec private daycare owners hold 1-day walkout
- Thousands of owners of private subsidized daycares marched in Montreal to denounce Quebec's plans to cut $15M from their budgets. more »
- Woman injured after falling on Montreal metro tracks
- Witnesses said she fell onto the tracks after stepping between two metro cars of a train that was stopped in the station. more »
- Schools, hospitals react swiftly to boil water advisory
- Today's widespread boil water advisory has had many Montrealers scrambling, including employees and administrators at schools and hospitals around the city. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Harper 'not consulted' about Duffy Senate expense repayment
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that not only did he not know about his chief of staff's "gift" to repay Senator Mike Duffy's expenses before the story broke in the media, he was not consulted and did not sign off on Nigel Wright's decision to write a personal cheque. more »
- 2 infants confirmed among dead of Oklahoma tornado
- Rescue workers raced to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of 10 children. more »
- 'You will see him again in heaven,' Sharlene Bosma tells daughter
- Sharlene Bosma told more than 1,000 people at the public memorial service for her slain husband, Tim Bosma, about the love they shared. more »
- Mayor Ford stays silent while his brother defends him
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford continues to stonewall the media over allegations that he was recorded on video smoking what appears to be crack cocaine, but his brother Coun. Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that the story is untrue. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- 1.3 million Montrealers face boil water advisory
- Woman injured after falling on Montreal metro tracks
- 23-year-old woman dies while surfing near LaSalle
- How Quebec Cree avoided the fate of Attawapiskat
- 'Lightly felt' earthquake west of Montreal
- Quebec private daycare owners hold 1-day walkout
- Taking a look at graffiti tagging hotspots in Montreal
- CBC board member linked to allegations before corruption inquiry
- Service restored on Montreal metro lines
