A former civil servant who embezzled public funds to build a “Batcave” in his garage will go to prison. Alain Prud’homme was sentenced to 18 months in detention on Tuesday morning.
Posted at 1:24 p.m.
“The case is a disaster and a scandal,” ruled Judge Alexandre Boucher at the Montreal courthouse.
Although he is reluctant to reoffend, Alain Prud’homme does not seem to understand the seriousness of the acts committed, summed up the judge.
“He presents himself as a victim and blames the repercussions of media coverage. […] His behavior, tinged with corruption, has seriously undermined the integrity of a government agency,” he adds.
The former director of the Montreal School of Construction Trades remained calm as he stared at Judge Boucher. Alain Prud’homme will also have to perform 120 hours of community work following his detention for his crimes committed between 2011 and 2017.
The 64-year-old pleaded guilty last March to charges of fraud, fraud against the government and breach of trust, in connection with the embezzlement of public funds which were used in particular to build his own “Batcave”.
Alain Prud’homme bought with the school budget for $20,000 of computer equipment, by manufacturing false documents to circumvent a moratorium on the purchase of these products.
The material was used for personal purposes by him and other school employees. He again dipped into public funds to buy high-end cameras and kitchen implements worth $50,000 that were of no use to the school establishment.
The former official had also awarded non-compliant contracts worth nearly $900,000 to two contractors who were not previously approved by the school board.
With Vincent Larouche