Michael Applebaum's preliminary hearing begins Monday
Former Montreal mayor facing charges of conspiracy, breach of trust and fraud
Michael Applebaum will hear the Crown prosecutor's case against him beginning on Monday as his preliminary hearing gets underway at the Montreal courthouse.
The former Montreal mayor is facing 14 charges including fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust. Those charges are related to events that are alleged to have happened during his time as borough mayor of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence against Applebaum to pursue a criminal trial.
Applebaum served as Montreal's mayor from 2012 to 2013, after former mayor Gérald Tremblay resigned amid non-formal accusations of corruption. Tremblay has never been charged with any crime.
Applebaum previously served as a Montreal borough mayor from 2002 to 2012. From 1994 to 2002, he served as a city councillor and then as a city executive committee member.
He was arrested in June 2013 by Quebec's anti-corruption unit, UPAC.
Applebaum has consistently denied all charges against him and has vowed to fight them if his case goes to trial.
"Not only will Mr. Applebaum maintain his plea of not guilty, but he will vigorously defend himself against the charges he is facing and insist upon bringing the case to trial as soon as possible," his lawyer Pierre Teasdale told CBC News.