Claude Dauphin, Lachine mayor, targeted in UPAC raids

Quebec's anti-corruption unit is raiding five locations in Montreal today, including both the residence and office of Lachine's borough mayor, Claude Dauphin.

The raids are related to a larger investigationlooking into the city's cancelled$355-millionwater-meter contract.

Investigators also searched the residenceofSammyForcillo, a former member of Montreal's executive committee and one-timehead of water management for the city, as well as the homeofformer executive committeevice-presidentFrancine Sncal and the residence ofone-time executive committee member Cosmo Maciocia.

In a statement, the borough ofLachineconfirmedthemayor'soffice wasbeing searchedand said it iscooperating withinvestigators.

UPAC spokeswomanAnne-Frdrick Laurence saidMontreal police are assisting with the investigation.

"The raids might last all day, depending on the cooperation we receive. No arrests are planned, but people [will be] met by investigators today," Laurencesaid.

Today's raids markthe fifth time in several weeks that anti-corruption officers have conducted searches in connection to the water meter scandal.

Last week,UPACraidedthe engineering firm Dessau's building in downtown Montreal.

In 2009, formerMontreal mayor Grald Tremblayannouncedthe multi-million dollarcontract awarded to theprivate consortiumGNIeauwould be cancelledafter a review foundirregularities withthe tendering process.

At the time, it was the biggest contractever awarded by the city.