Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

SNC-Lavalin delays jury decision in corruption trial until June 28

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Jun, 2019 05:55 PM

    SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is pushing back its decision on whether to opt for a trial by jury or by judge alone in a corruption case that has tripped up the engineering giant and ensnared it in a political controversy for months.

    "I need more time to make the choice. It has to be decided by several people in the company," defence lawyer Francois Fontaine told the Court of Quebec on Friday.

    "Because it's an important decision," he told reporters after the morning hearing. "It's a big company. It's necessary to take the time to analyze it carefully."

    Last week a Quebec judge ruled there is enough evidence to send SNC-Lavalin to trial over charges of fraud and corruption, prompting a further tumble in the beleaguered firm's share price.

    The company has previously pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges. SNC-Lavalin is due back in court June 28. The Montreal-based firm is accused of paying $47.7 million in bribes to public officials in Libya between 2001 and 2011. SNC-Lavalin, its construction division and a subsidiary also face one charge each of fraud and corruption for allegedly defrauding various Libyan organizations of $129.8 million.

    The court hearing in Montreal on Friday was the latest step in criminal proceedings that began last fall after SNC-Lavalin failed to secure a deferred prosecution agreement, a kind of plea deal that would have seen the firm agree to pay a fine rather than face prosecution.

    Since early February, SNC-Lavalin has been at the centre of a political controversy following accusations from former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould that top government officials pressured her to overrule federal prosecutors and negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement with the company.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Extradition hearing for Huawei executive set for January

    Meng is free on bail in Vancouver and living in one of her two multimillion-dollar mansions.

    Extradition hearing for Huawei executive set for January

    B.C. premier at D-Day events, says we must not forget horrors of intolerance

    The premier attended ceremonies in France to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day and described the event on Juno beach as "powerful" and "very moving."

    B.C. premier at D-Day events, says we must not forget horrors of intolerance

    Burnaby RCMP searching for semi-truck driver after fatal hit and run

    Burnaby RCMP searching for semi-truck driver after fatal hit and run
    Mounties say in a news release officers were called after 11 a.m. Thursday to the area of Marine Way and Boundary Road.

    Burnaby RCMP searching for semi-truck driver after fatal hit and run

    Controversial bill on energy project assessment passes Senate heavily amended

    The Senate passed the Impact Assessment Act late Thursday with more than 180 amendments.

    Controversial bill on energy project assessment passes Senate heavily amended

    China 'inventing excuses' to block shipments of Canadian canola, Trudeau says

    Trudeau used his toughest language yet over the Chinese government's decision to reject Canadian canola on the grounds that inspectors have found pests in it.

    China 'inventing excuses' to block shipments of Canadian canola, Trudeau says

    Trudeau has 'confidence' in RCMP to investigate Canadian extremist travellers

    Trudeau said the Mounties and intelligence agencies in Canada and abroad face the difficult challenge of presenting the information they gather in court as evidence of crimes.

    Trudeau has 'confidence' in RCMP to investigate Canadian extremist travellers