Disgraced entrepreneur Tony Accurso will be able to leave the halfway house where he said he was being extorted by other residents. He can now return to live in the community, as part of his day parole.
This was decided by the Parole Board of Canada in a decision made public on Friday.
Aged 72, Tony Accurso is still serving a four-year prison sentence for his participation in the corruption and collusion system set up in Laval under the administration of former mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, from 1996 to 2010.
Because his crime was committed several years ago, Mr. Accurso was able to benefit from an old procedure in the prison system that no longer exists today, the accelerated review, which allowed non-violent criminals to be released after serving one-sixth of their sentence.
Gunshots
Last winter, he was able to return to his house in Deux-Montagnes, under a semi-liberty with several conditions, which notably prohibit him from managing a business, except in connection with the sale or development of properties he already owns. He was also prohibited from associating with people with a criminal record.
But last April, less than a month after he returned home, shots were fired at the residence of his cousin Giuseppe Molluso, a former co-accused in the Laval corruption case who was Mr. Accurso’s immediate neighbor.
Tony Accurso contacted correctional services himself, who had him rearrested and sent back to a halfway house, on the grounds that he had violated his conditions prohibiting him from approaching his cousin.
Since then, the former businessman has been living in a halfway house where he says he was being extorted by other residents. He says he handled the situation himself and did not call the police for help. He still maintains that he did not violate his conditions and has not been in contact with his cousin. He had no control over the fact that shots were fired at his neighbor’s residence, he stressed.
Not an unacceptable risk
The commissioner who reviewed his application found it appropriate to allow him to enjoy semi-liberty in the community. His location has not been made public.
“The Board is of the opinion that you will not present an unacceptable risk to society and that your release will contribute to the protection of society by promoting your reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen,” the decision states.
In November, Tony Accurso is expected to gain more freedom of movement as he becomes eligible for full parole, which is less restrictive than the semi-liberty he currently enjoys.
With the collaboration of Daniel Renaud, The Press