Corruption: SNC-Lavalin could get out with a $ 30 million fine

The SNC-Lavalin company, which has been accused of paying bribes for the restoration of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, could escape a fine of up to $ 30 million.

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In September 2021 the engineering and construction company was charged with fraud, forgery, fraud and conspiracy against the government.

Two of its former directors, Normand Morin and Kamal Francis, were also arrested and charged as part of the investigation known as Agrof 2. They paid a total of $ 2.23 million to the former CEO of the bridge company Federal Mitchell Fornier between 1997 and 2004.

However, the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) SNC-Lavalin Inc. And SNC-Lavalin Internationals proposed to negotiate a penalty payment, which would allow companies to win public contracts.

On Friday afternoon, the DPCP announced that a preliminary agreement had been reached with SNC-Lavalin and that it would be presented to the Supreme Court on May 10.

The agreement provides for SNC-Lavalin and SNC-Lavalin International to pay a total of $ 29,558,777 over a 3-year period.

In order to be valid, the contract must be approved by a judge.

The Crown did not want to comment further on Friday afternoon, “said Roni Bar-On, a Member of the Knesset for Kadima Criminal Code And orders made by the Superior Court in the early stages of the approval process ”.

Keep in mind that bribes were paid as part of winning a $ 128 million contract to repair the Jacques-Cartier Bridge in the early 2000s.

Mitchell Fournier was sentenced in 2017 to five years in prison in the case.