Michael Applebaum did not testify in his own defence at his trial as the crown's final witness corroborated details of alleged cash transactions to greenlight a housing development in the Côte-des-Neiges/NDG when Applebaum was mayor there.
Applebaum is on trial on charges of corruption, breach of trust and conspiracy in connection with two real estate projects in the borough. Both the crown and the defence wrapped up their cases yesterday. Applebaum's lawyer announced there would be no defence.
Retired mortgage consultant Anthony Keeler, testifying in a wheelchair, had a fuzzy memory at times but his testimony matched those of previous witnesses.
Keeler testified Applebaum's ex-chief of staff Hugo Tremblay asked for money to help the Project Troie development along. Keeler said Tremblay told him that Applebaum had to work hard on it and that Tremblay asked for $50,000. Keeler said "it was way too much." They eventually bargained it down to $30 or $35,000 which Keeler called his counter bid.
"They wanted to squeeze us," Keeler said he told his ex-partner Robert Stein.
Keeler also described the alleged cash transactions involving Tremblay, with Stein putting the money in empty video cassette boxes that Keeler delivered to Tremblay in shopping bags at a coffee shop. Keeler said he met with Tremblay three or four times.
Keeler testified he didn't see the money go to Applebaum but assumed it did because "Applebaum was Tremblay's boss."
Keeler said when UPAC investigators approached him, they looked like "the cat who swallowed the canary" and gave him the impression that "the jig was up."
Keeler said he refused to cooperate or sign a police statement unless Stein - or Robbie as he kept calling him - received the same protection he was offered. Keeler said Stein was like a son to him.
The crown presents its closing arguments Friday while the defence's final arguments are scheduled for Monday.