Jaela Bernstien is using Twitter to provide a live blog at the CBC News website. Applebaum is charged with conspiracy, breach of trust, and two forms of corruption: municipal corruption and fraud on the government. Since the day he resigned from office, Applebaum has maintained his innocence. He has called the charges against him unfounded. Applebaum has requested to have a trial before a judge alone, rather than a jury. The trial is expected to last at least two weeks.
Hugo Tremblay worked as Applebaum’s political aide
Hugo Tremblay worked as Applebaum’s political aide and later chief of staff between 2006 and 2012, when Applebaum was the borough mayor of Montreal’s Côte-des-Neiges – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood. He’s the Crown’s first witness, and Tuesday is his second day of testifying against his former boss.
The Crown’s key witness at ex-Montreal mayor Michael Applebaum’s corruption trial says he was often conflicted about working with police against his former boss and that it took a mental and physical toll. But former Applebaum aide Hugo Tremblay testified Wednesday he was determined to live up to his end of the bargain after agreeing to work with anti-corruption police (read more).
DAY 4: polygraph test
The defence lawyer attempted to shake Tremblay’s credibility in court on Thursday by highlighting his lifestyle choices and his use of drugs. The former political aide, who turned on Michael Applebaum to help investigators, told the Quebec court he’d be happy to take a polygraph test to prove he’s telling the truth about how his former boss orchestrated a strategy of corruption (read more).
Read more about Applebaum’s case at CBC News.
