Former Quebec lieutenant governor Lise Thibault talks to media as she leaves court, Monday, July 28, 2014 in Quebec City. Thibault arrived at a detention centre this morning to begin serving her 18-month prison term for fraud and breach of trust. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Clement Allard
Republished February 26, 2016 - 6:05 AM
Original Publication Date February 25, 2016 - 7:50 AM
QUEBEC - Former Quebec lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault will not go to the Supreme Court after losing a bid to serve her 18-month jail term in the community, her partner said Thursday.
Real Cloutier told radio station 106.9 Mauricie that Thibault has accepted a ruling by Quebec's top court she be incarcerated.
Cloutier was speaking after he drove Thibault to a Quebec City detention centre to begin the 18-month term for fraud and breach of trust.
"She spent the night (Wednesday) crying," Cloutier told the station. "Let's just say it was a difficult morning (Thursday)."
Cloutier, who was Thibault's longtime aide-de-camp, described himself at sentencing arguments last May as her "best friend, chauffeur, bodyguard, cook and assistant gardener.''
The Quebec Court of Appeal rejected Thibault's attempt Wednesday to be allowed to serve the sentence in the community and she had 24 hours to report to the detention centre.
Thibault, 76, was sentenced last fall.
She pleaded guilty in December 2014 after a 2007 report by the federal and provincial auditors general revealed she claimed more than $700,000 in improper expenses when she held the vice-regal post between 1997 and 2007.
Thibault's trial heard money was allegedly spent on gifts, trips, parties, meals and skiing and golf lessons.
Trial judge Carol St-Cyr called her behaviour "highly reprehensible'' and part of a "culture of deceit.''
Thibault, who was also ordered to pay back $200,000 to the federal government and $100,000 to Quebec, testified she had little to show financially for her time as vice-regal — a divorce ate into her savings and she said she was living on a $30,000 pension.
St-Cyr ruled against a pair of motions filed by defence lawyer Marc Labelle, who argued the case should have been dismissed because the accused benefited from royal immunity.
Labelle said that meant Thibault was not a civil servant and therefore could not face criminal charges.
The judge said constitutional law stipulates the lieutenant-governor does not enjoy the same benefits as the Queen.
St-Cyr also noted that under the Constitution, the lieutenant-governor is a civil servant, adding such an affirmation was even posted on the lieutenant-governor's website.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016