A former Quebec construction magnate found guilty of participating in a Montreal-area municipal fraud scheme has been granted bail pending his appeal of both his conviction and sentence.
Tony Accurso was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month after a jury convicted him on fraud-related charges in connection with a vast kickback system involving the ex-mayor of Laval, located just north of Montreal.
The Quebec Court of Appeal ruled today that Accurso, 66, can be released under certain conditions including depositing $50,000 of his own money.
His son will contribute another $75,000.
Accurso is also required to surrender his passport, remain in Quebec and is banned from possessing weapons.
The corruption scheme lasted between 1996 and 2010 and was run by former Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt, who pleaded guilty to fraud-related charges and was sentenced to six years in prison.