Corrupt former director in taxpayer’s crosshairs for building “Batcave”.

The former director of the School of Construction Trades in Montreal, who is already in prison for defrauding the government to build a Batman-inspired garage at home, has pleaded guilty to paying the taxpayer $54,000 in fines.

• Read More – Fraud Against Government: Jail for Building “Batcave”

“Yes I plead guilty, yes I plead guilty,” wailed Alain Brutholm during a hearing in a Montreal court on Friday.

Since last November, EMCM’s sacked director has been serving an 18-month prison sentence for fraud and breach of trust in connection with crimes committed between 2011 and 2017.

Unnecessary purchases

At the time, Proudholm was president of the Montreal School of Construction Trades (EMCM). Taking advantage of his title, he awarded nearly $900,000 worth of “irregular” contracts to two contractors not approved by the school board.

“This allowed him to receive benefits, including work to build a luxury garage in his private residence,” explained Me Maude Piché of the Quebec revenue agency.

Prud’homme had built a chic gym inside the school with changing rooms and unnecessary equipment at EMCM, but he used it for personal purposes.

“There were high-end kitchen appliances and photography equipment,” the lawyer said.

It’s the taxpayer’s turn

Proudhomme was arrested by the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit. Except that tax investigators were also interested in his case. After verification, he did not declare all the benefits received by him.

“He made false or misleading statements under tax law,” the court document said.

He was accused of illegally withdrawing GST money, which he pleaded guilty to on Friday. In all, he pleaded guilty to four criminal charges.

At the plea of ​​the parties, Judge Pierre Fordin fined him $54,000 and sentenced him to one year in prison. However, the sentence will be served at the same time as the criminal file, so it should not extend the time Proudholm spends behind bars.