Ex-MUHC director charged and released on conditions

Media | Yanaï Elbaz arraigned

Caption: Ex-MUHC director was charged and released on $100,000 bail

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Yanaï Elbaz was formally charged in court today before being released on conditions and $100,000 bail.
The McGill University Health Centre’s (MUHC) former director of redevelopment, planning and real estate management was arrested yesterday on charges of fraud, fraud against the government, breach of trust, laundering the proceeds of a crime and using false or forged documents.
His release hinges on conditions that include not communicating with employees of the engineering firm SNC-Lavalin or the MUHC.
"He has also conditions of not leaving Canada, of handing over all his passports and travel documents and not requesting any others," said Crown prosecutor Marie-Hélène Giroux.
He must also report in person to the Sûreté du Québec every week, except during Passover, when he can report to the SQ on the phone.
Former colleague of Elbaz and SNC-Lavalin ex-CEO Pierre Duhaime was also expected to be arraigned on charges today, but did not appear in court.
Duhaime is already facing fraud charges(external link) which were laid against him earlier this month.
Quebec’s anti-corruption task force, UPAC, issued warrants yesterday(external link) for the arrests of five men including Elbaz and Duhaime.
The other men named are former MUHC head Arthur Porter, former SNC-Lavalin employee Riadh Ben Aïssa and the relatively unknown Jeremy Morris.
They’re accused of participating in a scheme to defraud the provincial government.
The charges stem from the $1.3-billion contract for the construction of the MUHC’s new Glen campus.
Elbaz is expected in court in May.