Jury selection in the trial of former federal Liberal Party organizer Jacques Corriveau began at the Montreal courthouse Tuesday morning.
Corriveau, 83, faces charges of fraud against the government, forgery and laundering the proceeds of crime for his role in the sponsorship scandal that was uncovered by the Gomery Commission in 2005. He was charged in 2013.
While looking into the sponsorship program set up by former prime minister Jean Chrétien, Justice John Gomery concluded that Liberal Party officials ran “an elaborate kickback” scheme to fund the party’s Quebec wing.
The sponsorship program was set up by Chrétien’s Liberal Party after the close 1995 sovereignty referendum to remind Quebecers of the federal government’s role and to increase national unity in Quebec.
The Gomery Commission revealed that much of the $150-million program’s money ended up back with the Liberal party.
Corriveau was present for jury selection on Tuesday morning, as roughly 135 members of the public were called as potential jurors. Twelve jurors and two alternates will be selected.
Crown prosecutor Jacques Dagenais said witnesses who will be called to testify include police officers, investigators, accountants and former Liberal Party officials and candidates.
The trial is expected to last four or five weeks.
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