Pomerleau project manager charged in alleged Turcot contract scheme

Pomerleau project manager Eric Carbonneau has been charged in connection with an alleged scheme to profit from the bidding process for the $3-billion contract to rebuild the Turcot Interchange. 

The head of Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC), Robert Lafrenière, says Carbonneau was arrested Tuesday morning as he was about to commit "a major fraud." 

UPAC alleges Carbonneau had developed a scheme in which he planned to sell strategic information about his company's public offer to competitor SNC-Lavalin. In exchange for this information, he would have collected a payment of several million dollars. 

Carbonneau appeared in a Longueuil courtroom Tuesday afternoon to face charges of fraud and secret commissions.

"The accused, who probably believed he was above the law, is now in custody," says Lafrenière. "We cannot tolerate that the foundations of democracy are being manipulated by a dishonest person."

Provincial police captain André Boulanger says Carbonneau acted alone, that no one else at Pomerleau knew what he was doing.

"I underline the fact that the companies that are part of the consortium wishing to obtain the lucrative construction contract to rebuild the Turcot interchange did nothing wrong in this matter," says Boulanger. 

During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Boulanger also thanked SNC-Lavalin for its collaboration in the investigation. 

Pomerleau statement

In a written statement, Pomerleau says it was stunned and extremely disappointed to learn its employee allegedly tried to sell confidential information for personal profit.

The construction company says Carbonneau had been working there for less than two years. He has been suspended without pay and Pomerleau says it will cooperate fully with the UPAC investigation.