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Former mayor of Chambly arrested for obstruction of justice and breach of trust

Denis Lavoie was released on a promise to appear on May 10 at the Longueuil courthouse.

Denis Lavoie "is accused of having willfully attempted to obstruct, pervert or frustrate the course of justice at the municipal court of Chambly."
Denis Lavoie "is accused of having willfully attempted to obstruct, pervert or frustrate the course of justice at the municipal court of Chambly." Photo by GORDON BECK /Montreal Gazette files

Former Mayor of Chambly, Denis Lavoie, was arrested on Tuesday by Quebec’s anti-corruption unit (UPAC) for obstruction of justice and breach of trust.

“Mr. Lavoie is accused of having willfully attempted to obstruct, pervert or frustrate the course of justice at the municipal court of Chambly, thereby committing an obstruction of justice and a breach of trust by interfering in (its) affairs,” the Commissaire à la lutte contre la corruption said in a statement.

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Lavoie, who was once an investigator with the Sûreté du Québec and a lawyer, was released on a promise to appear on May 10 at the Longueuil courthouse. The acts that resulted in charges against him allegedly occurred between Jan. 1, 2016 and May 7, 2019.

In 2018, Radio-Canada’s Enquête showed examples of interference by Lavoie in various files. Around the same time, the city had the bicentennial Boileau house demolished, resulting in outcry from citizens.

In 2019, Chambly was placed under trusteeship by the Quebec government. Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest had said the decision followed verifications carried out by the Commission municipale du Québec concerning management of the city and the allegations of breaches in terms of ethics and professional conduct.

At the time, UPAC had carried out searches at town hall and other municipal buildings.

Lavoie was first elected mayor of Chambly in 2005. Voters granted him a fourth consecutive term in the 2017 election. He announced his resignation in April 2019, amid controversy, because of throat cancer.

  1. Denis Lavoie takes his place as the mayor of Chambly at a swearing-in ceremony at city hall in 2005.

    Minister orders investigation into Chambly mayor

  2. Denis Lavoie takes his place as the mayor of Chambly at a swearing-in ceremony at city hall in 2005.

    Amid controversy, Chambly mayor resigns for health reasons

  3. Denis Lavoie, who had been mayor of Chambly since 2005, resigned in April for health reasons, amid controversy that led to the city being placed under provincial trusteeship in February after Quebec’s anti-corruption unit, UPAC, raided city offices.

    Alexandra Labbé elected mayor in Chambly byelection