Quebec construction magnate Tony Accurso leaves the Quebec Provincial Police headquarters after being arrested for charges of fraud in Montreal on April 17, 2012. Quebec construction magnate Tony Accurso has been arrested for the second time as police continue to crack down on alleged corruption in the industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
August 09, 2012 - 9:43 AM
MONTREAL - Quebec construction magnate Tony Accurso has been arrested for the second time as police continue to crack down on alleged corruption in the industry.
The RCMP says five men, including Accurso, were arrested early this morning and the charges against them will include fraud, conspiracy and corruption.
They are accused of conspiring to commit tax fraud and are to appear in court in September.
RCMP allege the men concocted a 17-point plan, with help from inside Revenue Canada, to defraud the government of more than $3 million.
Accurso was arrested and charged with separate crimes in April, including fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust.
Quebec's wave of corruption-related scandals began more than three years ago and is now the subject of a corruption inquiry and a focus of the current provincial election campaign.
Accurso, along with Francesco Bruno, Francesco Fiorino and Adriano Furgiuele face six charges each. A fifth suspect is still being questioned by police.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012