The trial of Michael Applebaum is drawing to a close as the crown presented its final arguments in a bid to prove the former mayor was involved in conspiracy, corruption and breach of trust in connection with two real estate projects in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges/NDG when the accused was mayor there.
Applebaum was arrested in June 2013 on 14 charges related to the failed Projet Troie housing project and the maintenance contract for the borough's sports complex.
Much of the crown's evidence is based on the testimony of its key witness, Applebaum's former chief-of-staff Hugo Tremblay. The crown also had four other witnesses. There was no defence so Applebaum did not testify.
Kleber said the pattern was the same for both projects: Tremblay testified Applebaum told him to set up meetings with developers and businessmen to ask for "extra political effort" who "would understand." Tremblay had said that meant getting money to greenlight the project and contract.
Keller said Tremblay would act on Applebaum's orders, the entrepreneurs would agree to pay and they paid. Kleber said it was slightly different in the sports complex contract in that it was Tremblay who took the initiative to ask for money but that it was still Applebaum who gave him the go-ahead.
Kleber said Applebaum did know what was going on: Tremblay testified Applebaum was angry the sports complex contract bidders initially refused to pay and that Applebaum had told him, "I'm no angel" when discussing the matter of payments from entrepreneurs.
Kleber argued the developers and the businessmen said they were under no illusions: no money, no project or contract.
Kleber said that for the developers and businessmen and in their minds, the money was for Applebaum. Kleber argued witnesses made it clear that Applebaum, as an elected official and acting within his functions, had the power to make or break deals. She said
Kleber tried to dispel defence suggestions that witnesses conspired to put the blame on Applebaum, insisting Tremblay didn't know the developers and that the three didn't have any contact with each other in the lead-up to Applebaum's arrest.
Defence attorney Pierre Teasdale will present his closing arguments on Monday.