Testimony that sank Montreal mayor was untrue: inquiry witness

MONTREAL – A witness at Quebec’s corruption inquiry is rejecting earlier testimony that led to the resignation of former Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay.

Marc Deschamps says testimony from a former party organizer that Tremblay knew about two sets of financial books during a 2004 meeting was not true.

The claim last fall was politically devastating to the mayor and he resigned soon thereafter — a year before a scheduled election.

Deschamps is a former official agent for Union Montreal, the municipal party that was in power until last year.

As for that infamous meeting he allegedly attended, where Tremblay was supposedly made aware of the crooked book-keeping, Deschamps was matter of fact: he said it never took place.

It’s not the first time that testimony of Martin Dumont is challenged. Dumont, who made the claims about the mayor, has admitted he made up an anecdote during another part of his testimony.

Deschamps’ testimony sets the table for a trio of high-profile witnesses coming up — former Union Montreal fundraiser Bernard Trepanier; former executive committee head Frank Zampino; and Tremblay himself.