Contrecoeur case delayed after defence learns of recorded conversations with accused

The fraud case against Frank Zampino and five other men has been delayed yet again, after the prosecution was ordered to disclose details of recordings between the defence and the accused.

The recordings weremade as part of a separate, ongoing police investigation.

IsabelSchurman, lawyer forZampino, the former chairman of Montreal's executive committee, said the defence only learned this morning that the conversations had been recorded.

The revelation came after defence lawyers received an email yesterday alerting them to new evidence.

Schurmantold the courttherecordings represent a violation of attorney-client privilege and called the situation"unacceptable."

Opening arguments in the trial were supposed tobegin this morning, after months of delays and pre-trial motions.

Instead, the Quebec Court Judge Yvan Poulinadjourned the proceedingsand ordered the prosecution to hand over theevidence to the defenceby the end of the day.

• FaubourgContrecoeurfraud trial: Accused plead not guilty

Proceedings will resume Tuesday morning at the Montreal courthouse.

Allegations dating to 2007

Zampinowas arrested, along with several others, in the spring of 2012 on charges of fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust in connection with a land deal. The construction firm FrankCatania&Associatesis also amongthe accused.

The charges are in connection with the Faubourg Contrecoeurland transaction in 2007 in the city's east end.

The other co-accused are Andr Fortin, PasqualeFedele, Martin D'Aoust and Pascal Patrice.

At the time of the land deal, Zampino was the right-hand man of former mayor Grald Tremblay.

The piece of land in question was sold for about $4 million, but it was valued atmany times more than that.

Zampino is alleged to have fixed the bidding process to favour the construction company.

All of the accused, who pleaded not guilty, will be back in court next monthwhen the trial is set to resume.

The recordings weremade as part of a separate, ongoing investigation, the Crown said.