Defence seeks no prison time for ex-Liberal convicted in sponsorship fraud

MONTREAL — The lawyer for an ex-Liberal party organizer convicted for his role in the sponsorship scandal is arguing his elderly client should avoid prison.

Gerald Souliere told the court today Jacques Corriveau should serve his sentence in the community.

Corriveau, 83, was convicted of fraud against the government, forgery and laundering proceeds of crime between 1997 and 2003 during what became known as the sponsorship scandal.

The federal government inquiry that looked into the sponsorship program found that firms were winning contracts based on donations to the federal Liberals, with little work being done.