April 17, 2014 - 12:25 PM
MONTREAL - A former Quebec Federation of Labour vice-president says extravagant expense accounts filed by one of its construction-wing representatives were completely justified.
Jocelyn Dupuis is on trial for fraud and fabricating documents and is accused of charging the labour organization for tens of thousands of dollars in expenses by using fake or inflated bills.
Renald Grondin defended Dupuis on the witness stand today, saying the union knew and approved of his practices because he often paid other union expenses out of his own pocket.
Grondin couldn't explain why Dupuis would use this method instead of seeking reimbursement through filing proper claims.
Dupuis served as director-general of the labour federation's construction wing between 1997 and 2008.
The charges are related to events that allegedly occurred in his last 11 months on the job when he filed 43 expense accounts totalling $225,000.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014