MONTREAL – The case against a man described as a central figure in the federal sponsorship scandal has been put off until May.

Jacques Corriveau was not in court this morning as his lawyer received a hard disk containing the voluminous evidence amassed against him.

Corriveau, a longtime federal Liberal organizer, faces charges that include fraud against the government, forgery and laundering proceeds of crime.

The Mounties allege that Corriveau set up a kickback system on contracts awarded during the sponsorship program and used his Pluri Design Canada Inc. firm to defraud the federal government.

A report on the scandal pinned Corriveau with much of the blame for the multimillion-dollar fraud.

Corriveau is also a very close friend of former prime minister Jean Chretien, having worked on his campaigns as well as being a Liberal operative in Quebec.

A judge put the case on hold until May 5.

Sponsorship-related criminal files proceed directly to trial before judge and jury and Corriveau’s case will no different.

Any trial isn’t expected before 2015.