Accurso says he gave$ 300,000 to his “friend” the mayor of Mascouche

Photo Martin Alarie

Geneviève Quessy

Tuesday, January 30, 2018 13:54

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Tuesday, January 30, 2018 13:54

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Tony Accurso says he lent$ 300,000 to his friend, the mayor of Mascouche, but he had never asked them to repay.

Accused of having brought the ex-mayor of Mascouche, Richard Marcotte, on his boat the Touch, and having made him a cheque of$ 300,000 for the purpose of obtaining contracts for his company, Tony Accurso continued to defend herself Tuesday morning, saying that the man was a good friend and that there was no business relationship between them.

Tony Accurso has, however, been forced to admit on Tuesday morning, never having asked the deceased mayor Marcotte of the refund.

Mr. Accurso explained to the jury that he had total confidence in Richard Marcotte. “He told me that it was to invest in real estate and this type of investment requires several years to be cost-effective. I was confident that he was going to repay me”, he said while he was being cross-examined by mr. Pascal Grimard of the Crown.

Never the two men have signed an agreement and mr. Accurso has never broached the subject with Richard Marcotte. “It was a chum, then I had no business to make a contract. I come from a generation where the word and the handshake count as a contract.”

Tony Accurso has never spoken of this loan to any person except to the controller of Simard-Beaudry, who asked her to produce the cheque of$300,000.

The two men have maintained a relationship of friendship from 12 years before Richard Marcotte became mayor. The question of a potential conflict of interest would have arisen only once between them. “It is I who broached the subject and he told me that we were friends and that if ever he saw that it was a problem, he would discuss it with me. It was he, the politician. I invited him, and if he saw a conflict, it was up to him to tell me. The politicians and contractors have the right to have friends,” argued Tony Accurso.

The people that he invited on his boat were his close friends, said the businessman. “When I invited someone on the boat, the vacation would not cost nothing and I paid the plane tickets. It was me who called.”

Never Tony Accurso would not have prompted the mayor Marcotte to act against the interests of its citizens, he said, and he never found dishonesty in Richard Marcotte.

The trial of Tony Accurso continues Thursday at the courthouse in Joliette with the argument of the defence.