Lise Thibault ordered to repay $300K, serve 18 months

Former Quebec lieutenant-governorLiseThibaultwas sentenced onWednesday to18 months in jail and wasordered to repay the government $300,000after pleading guilty to fraud and breach of trust last year.

• LiseThibault, ex-Quebec lieutenant-governor, pleads guilty to 6 charges
• Golf lessons, fishing rods amongLiseThibault'sexpenses

The judge inThibault's fraud case said there was no question about Thibault's intentions when she stole $429,676 from the provincial and federal governments over seven years by claiming reimbursements for things she should not have claimed as expenses.

Thibault must repay$200,000 to the federal government and $100,000 to Quebec.

In a long preamble to the final sentencing, Quebec Court JudgeCarol St-Cyr took the time to outline her crimes, pointing out that Thibaultwas more concerned with her public image than in accounting for her wrongdoing.

St-Cyr said Thibault took advantage of holes in the system and abused her position of authority to pay for trips, golf lessonsand birthday parties. He alsosaid that Thibault forgot that her role as lieutenant-governorwas to be a good example for Quebecers.

Thibault did not react as the judge handed down her 18-month jail sentence. She was handcuffed while sitting in her wheelchair and when constables wheeled her out of the courtroom, she wassmiling.

Crown wanted 4-year sentence

The 76-year-oldpleaded guilty last year tosubmitting expenses for travel, gifts, meals and events for herself and herfamily during her 10-year appointment.

The Crown has argued she should go to prison for four yearsfor committing fraud while in a position of public trust and should pay back $430,000.

Thibault's lawyer Marc Labellehas said his clienthas been "publicly crucified"and should serve a one-year sentence in the community.

Thibault recently toldRadio-Canada she doesn't remember pleading guilty in 2014. She said she has beenunfairly depicted in the media with "rumours and lies that help sell the news."

Appeal requested

Hours after Thibault was sentenced, her lawyer, Marc Labelle, filed a request to appeal the sentence.

"The law says that when it is not a crime of violence,when the person has no record, when there are particular conditions as far as her health is concerned ... the law provides that jail is supposed to be the last-case scenario for an accused," he said. "Even though itmay sometimes undermine the public confidence ... time to be served in the community is still time," he said.

Labelletold reporters outside the Quebec City courtroomthat he will requestThibaultbe releasedas early as Thursday morning pending approval of theappeal.