Gerald Tremblay knew about corruption, court documents allege
Police source says Tremblay 'buried head in the sand,' but was aware of Mafia-run collusion scheme
Court documents made public today allege former Montreal mayor Gérald Tremblay knew about corruption at city hall, but chose to pretend he was in the dark.
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The court lifted a publication ban on details from an affidavit from a police source, after several media outlets, including the CBC, argued in court to have those details made public.
The court documents allege Tremblay was well aware of a system of corruption and collusion at city hall while he was mayor.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
The source quoted in the affidavit alleges the awarding of public contracts in Montreal was controlled by the Mafia, which set the rules on who could bid, particularly when it came to contracts for watermains and sewers.
The source says if other businesses not approved by organized crime tried to bid, they would be threatened and intimidated.
"A legitimate construction entrepreneur who didn't know the 'rules' and who would get quotes to bid on a city contract would be normally quickly met met by henchmen who delivered the message to not bid on the contract," the affidavit reads.
The source also alleges the companies allowed to bid had to tack on 10 per cent to the price of their bids. Of that, five per cent went to the Mafia and the other five per cent went to Tremblay's entourage or election campaign.
"Gérald Tremblay was well aware of it, but he preferred to bury his head in the sand," the affidavit reads, adding that the arrangement pleased the other players because Tremblay was awkward when he faced questions.
Tremblay has steadfastly denied those allegations.
On Monday, Tremblay again stated that he knew nothing about the alleged corruption.
In a statement, he said he cooperated with the Charbonneau Commission, meeting with investigators and answering all their questions.
The former mayor says he's now content to let justice run its course.
Tremblay stepped down as mayor nearly two years ago in the wake of testimony at the Charbonneau commission that alleged he turned a blind eye to widespread corruption.
The affidavit is part of the application made by investigators for a search warrant in the Faubourg Contrecoeur development case in 2010.
It centres on an alleged scheme to rig the bid for a $300 million dollar municipal contact.
Several people, including Tremblay's former right-hand man Frank Zampino and construction boss Paolo Catania, face charges in the case.