MONTREAL - A Quebec judge has ruled there is enough evidence to send SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. to trial on charges of fraud and corruption. The decision is the latest step in criminal proceedings that began last fall after the Montreal-based engineering and construction giant failed to secure a deferred prosecution agreement, a kind of plea deal that would have seen the firm agree to pay a fine rather than face prosecution. “Given the threshold to be met by the prosecution at the stage of the preliminary inquiry, this outcome was expected,” said chief executive Neil Bruce in a statement. The company has previously pleaded not guilty and Bruce said that “we will vigorously defend ourselves to get the right outcome and be acquitted.” “SNC-Lavalin is a completely transformed company,” he added. “These charges relate to alleged wrongdoings that took place seven to 20 years ago by certain former employees who left the company long ago.”ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Source: thestar May 29, 2019 14:35 UTC