Montreal

Defence, Crown ask for no jail time in Lino Zambito case

The defence and the Crown in Lino Zambito's fraud and corruption case are seeking no jail time for the former construction boss.

Former vice-president of Infrabec, a star witness in Quebec's corruption inquiry, pleaded guilty to 6 charges

Lino Zambito pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges in connection with a kickbacks-for-contracts scheme in Boisbriand in the 2000s. (Thomas Daigle/CBC)

The defence and the Crown in Lino Zambito's fraud and corruption case are seeking no jail time for the former construction boss — a star witness in Quebec's corruption commission hearings.

The lawyers have asked the judge for a sentence of two years minus a day to be served in the community, plus 240 hours of community service.

In the courtroom, Zambito told the judge, "You'll never see me here again for any criminal charges."

It will be up to Quebec Court Judge Paul Chevalier to decide and render the sentence on Nov. 10.

"I just want to put an end to all this. It's already four or five years that we are in this trial," Zambito said outside the courtroom.

"I just want to go on with my life, take care of kids, do something else and put it behind me."

The former vice-president of the construction firm Infrabec pleaded guilty to six charges in May: 

  • conspiracy to commit breach of trust.
  • municipal corruption.
  • fraud over $5,000.
  • conspiracy to commit fraud over $5,000.
  • intimidation.
  • fraud.

Giuseppe Zambito, Lino Zambito's father, was originally charged with fraud over $5,000 but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of intimidation.

Both were arrested in 2011 as part of Opération Marteau, the first major police operation targeting corruption and collusion.

The mayor of Boisbriand, Sylvie St-Jean, and engineers with the engineering-consulting firm Roche and BPR-Triax, were also arrested.

A year later, Lino Zambito decided to work with investigators. Over several days, he explained to the Charbonneau commission how a cartel of companies split up contracts in Montreal and Laval.