A Quebec Court judge in Joliette has thrown out a case against construction contractor Christian Blanchet because of unreasonable court delays. Blanchet, the owner of a company specializing in sewer and water main construction, was arrested in April 2014 on charges of fraud, breach of trust and conspiracy in connection with a corruption scandal in Mascouche, 30 kilometres north of Laval.
Trials must be completed within 18 months of charge
Blanchet’s case is the latest to be thrown out since the Supreme Court ruled in July that, in the absence of a preliminary inquiry, provincial court trials must be completed within 18 months of someone being charged with a crime. Risking years of investigation into alleged fraud and conspiracy could all lead to naught, there is reason for concern.
Read more about the contractor case at CBC News.
