Ex-Quebec union boss turns himself in

The former head of the construction arm of the Quebec’s biggest federation of labour unions, who was wanted on fraud charges, turned himself in to police Wednesday morning.

Jocelyn Dupuis is the former director of FTQ-Construction, an arm of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, or FTQ, which represents more than 70,000 construction workers.

Dupuis, who had been vacationing in California, turned himself over to police at the border crossing in Lacolle, Que., around 11 a.m.

Dupuis was briefly detained before being released after turning over his passport and agreeing to appear in court next Wednesday.

He had been sought on fraud and forgery-related charges after police issued a warrant for his arrest on March 10.

Dupuis made headlines last March when it was discovered he ran up massive expense bills for food and drink. He claimed $125,000 over six months, according to expense reports and receipts obtained at the time by CBC/Radio-Canada.

On average, the receipts showed he claimed more than $4,500 a week for meals in restaurants. Dupuis said then that the expenses were all approved by FTQ-Construction's executive.

The arrest warrant alleges that Dupuis defrauded FTQ-Construction of more than $5,000 and that he produced more than 200 false documents related to expense accounts and restaurant bills.