Former Quebec deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau, right, and her lawyer Maxime Roy arrive at the courthouse to face accusations of fraud and corruption, Monday, August 29, 2016 in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Republished August 29, 2016 - 3:00 PM
Original Publication Date August 29, 2016 - 1:15 AM
QUEBEC - The fraud case of former Quebec deputy premier Nathalie Normandeau will resume in late September.
Normandeau and six co-accused appeared in a Quebec City courtroom for the first time on Monday.
Defence lawyers are to find out by the next court appearance Sept. 28 what evidence the Crown is expected to present at the preliminary hearing.
Normandeau is charged with conspiracy, corruption, breach of trust and fraud in an alleged scheme in which police say political financing and gifts were exchanged for lucrative government contracts between 2000 and 2012.
She and the six others were arrested in mid-March and have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
In July, lawyers for Normandeau told a judge they plan to argue there isn't enough evidence to justify a trial.
Normandeau did not want to speak to reporters Monday other than to say she might discuss her legal proceedings when she starts a new radio job in Quebec City on Sept. 6.
After leaving politics, Normandeau began co-hosting a radio show in the provincial capital but was let go shortly after her arrest.
She was a member of the legislature between 1998 and 2011 and held various cabinet portfolios as well as being deputy premier between 2007 and 2011.
The judge ordered that all seven accused appear in person again on Sept. 28 to facilitate proceedings.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016