Former ad man charged with fraud over sponsorship scandal

An arrest warrant has been issued for former advertising executive Jean Lafleur, one of the key figures in the federal sponsorship scandal, who is facing fraud charges in relation to the program.

Lafleur, the former head of Lafleur Communication Marketing, is facing a 35-count fraudindictment overallegations related to 35 contracts worth $1.6 million.

The fraud allegedly happened between 1996 and 2001.

A warrant for Lafleur's arrestwas filed in Montreal Friday by Quebec provincial police. He is believed to be out of the country.

Police told the court they went last Wednesday to Lafleur's home, a Montreal apartment rented nearly two years ago.

But police say residents in the building report never seeing Lafleur since he moved in. A man claiming to be a lawyer went to the apartment about a month ago wanting to removethe articles inside, police said.

The lease on the apartment is up in a month and hasn't been renewed.

Police also told the judge Lafleur no longer has a car registered in his name and his driver's licence is no longer valid.

Theysayhe has no other known residences in Canada so they are unable to send him a summons to appear in court to face the 35-count fraud indictment.

News of the charges comes as former advertising executive Jacques Paradis, accused of fraud in connection with the federal sponsorship scandal, goes on trial in a Montreal courtroom.

The sponsorship scandal — in which ad executives admitted paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to the Liberals' Quebec wing in return for lucrative federal sponsorship contracts— devastated the Liberalparty in Quebec and ultimately helped drive the Liberals out of power in the 2006 federal election.

A number of people involved in the sponsorship program have been found guilty and sentenced to jail for their role in the scandal.