Montreal fighting to have Applebaum return $160,000

Montreal wants refund from Michael Applebaum The City of Montreal wants Michael Applebaum to return part of the money he was given when he stepped down as mayor of Montreal.

The city of Montreal wants Michael Applebaum to return part of the money he was given when he stepped down as mayor of Montreal.

The former mayor received $160,000 from the city in 2013 as transition pay and an additional $108,000 in departure pay after stepping down the day after he was arrested on multiple charges including fraud.

That money is given to politicians to recognize that they often give up private careers to run for political office, and can face problems returning to the private sector after they leave.

However in 2016, the city of Montreal changed its regulations so that any politician found guilty of fraud, or convicted of crimes punishable by two years or more in prison, would have to return the transition pay.

Earlier this year, Applebaum was convicted on eight counts of corruption, fraud, and conspiracy for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, although the maximum sentence for fraud is 14 years

Applebaum served two months before being granted parole, and will be on probation until 2019.

CTV has been unable to reach Applebaum or his legal representative for comment.

“He has to face the consequences of his actions,” said Montreal city councillor Alex Norris. “Michael Applebaum committed some serious crimes. He breached the public trust by accepting bribes in exchange for decisions that he made as a public official. That kind of corruption, we have to have zero tolerance for.”