Millions in Bebawi’s accounts were bonuses authorized by SNC bosses: defence
MONTREAL — Millions of dollars that ended up in the accounts of a former SNC-Lavalin executive on trial for fraud and corruption were legitimate bonuses authorized by the company’s president, the defence said in final arguments Tuesday.
Sami Bebawi’s legal team told the jury the money was compensation for their client’s work manoeuvring complicated contracts in Libya.
Defence lawyer Alexandre Bien-Aime said the amounts split between Bebawi and his former subordinate, Riadh Ben Aissa, were authorized by the engineering firm’s then-president Jacques Lamarre.
“What we submit is that simply, Mr. Jacques Lamarre had decided to remunerate Mr. Bebawi for his particular expertise in project management,” Bien-Aime said.