MONTREAL - There are guilty pleas in a large tax-evasion case involving Quebec's construction industry.
The industry is under increased scrutiny amid numerous reports of corruption involving company bosses, municipal politicians, or even the Mafia.
Today, B.T. Ceramiques and its owner, Francesco Bruno, pleaded guilty in a Montreal courtroom to tax evasion.
The case stems from one of several probes into the industry -- this one a Canada Revenue Agency investigation into tax fraud involving that ceramics company and firms owned by construction magnate Tony Accurso.
The agency alleged that two Accurso firms, Simard-Beaudry Construction and Construction Louisbourg Ltd., funnelled money to shell companies operated by Bruno.
In return, those firms were supplied with fake invoices between 2004 and 2008.
Bruno and his company pleaded guilty to eight charges and were fined about $1.29 million -- an amount that represents taxes evaded under the false billing scheme.
In December, Simard-Beaudry and Construction Louisbourg were fined $4.1 million for tax fraud in a separate case.
Last week, a police probe announced its first major strike with the arrest of seven people -- including municipal officials and construction industry players -- accused of colluding in a kickback scheme.
