Crown argues Montreal ex-mayor was behind strategy of bribes, corruption

The Crown prosecutor in the Michael Applebaum corruption trial spent most of Friday trying to persuadethe judge that her witnesses were reliable andtrustworthy and that any contradictions in their testimony were minor.

The prosecution's case relies heavily on the testimony of those witnesses, since there was no paper trail nor physical evidence linking Applebaum to an alleged strategy of accepting bribesfor bureaucratic favours.

• 'No paper trail' in MichaelApplebaum'scorruption trial means focus is on key witness's testimony

Applebaumfaces14 charges, including conspiracy, breach of trust and two forms of corruption: municipal corruption and fraud onthegovernment.

All the charges date back to his time as borough mayor ofCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce, between 2006 and 2012.

NathalieKlberspent muchof her closing arguments reviewing what Quebec Court Judge Louise Provost heard over seven days of testimony from the Crown's five witnesses.

"There's such a level of coherence in the details, that, according to me, these elements, these details here, allow me to come to the conclusion that these testimonies are trustworthy," Klber said.

"I insist again, that the whole of the proof that was made before you that there's no reason to doubt the credibility of [the witnesses'] trustworthiness."

'Minor details'

Anticipating the arguments of the defence lawyer, which the court will hear on Monday, Klber acknowledged several discrepancies in the testimony of her witnesses.

Klber argued the contradictions actually add to her witnesses' credibility.

"These are minor details, but these are the details that suggest these are details from people's memories," she said.

She predictedthat the defence might suggest her witnesses have triedto pin the blame for everything onApplebaum.

However, Klber countered, the level of overlapping, corroborative detail in all the witnesses' testimony suggests they're telling the truth.

'Applebaum taught me the rules of the game'

Klber also reminded the court that Hugo Tremblay, Applebaum's former right-hand man and political aide, testified that he learned everything about politics under the tutelage of Applebaumwhen he was hired at age 27.

"It was Michael Applebaum who taught me the rules of the game, from A to Z," Tremblay testified at the beginning of the trial.

Klber reviewedhow Applebaum allegedly reacted when Tremblaytold him a high-ranking executive from Dessaurefused, at first, to pay $25,000 to win a contract for themanagement andmaintenance of the NDG Sports Centre.

"Michael Applebaum was angry," Tremblay testified in court.

$1Kfor political fundraiser

In her closing arguments, Klber also highlighted that real estate entrepreneurs Robert Stein and Anthony Keeler both testified they remembered Applebaum asking them to pay in cash for a political fundraiser.

Stein told the courtthat near the end of that meeting, Applebaum saideither, "Elections are very expensive," or "Elections aren't cheap."

Stein saidhe understood what Applebaum was suggesting, and when the mayor told him about an upcoming political fundraising cocktail event, he offered to buy 10 tickets.

He told the court Applebaumsuggested it would be "preferable" if he agreed to pay in cash, and to hand over the money on a separate occasion to his right-hand man, Tremblay.

In his testimony, Stein said he ended up paying $5,000 in cash for the tickets.

But his associate, Keeler, testified the amount was $1,000.

7 days of testimony

Klberpresented seven days of evidence before the court, including testimony from engineers, real estate entrepreneurs and Applebaum's former political aide, Hugo Tremblay.

Witnesses described how they exchanged cash kickbacks for favours from the borough of Cte-des-NeigesNDG, describing DVD boxes and envelopes stuffed with cash handed over discreetly at cafs.

• 'Elections aren't cheap': Real estate manager recalls Michael Applebaum's words
• Ex-mayor MichaelApplebaumwill not testify at his corruption trial

The trial centres on two projects: aproposed real estate development on de Troie Avenue and a municipal contract for the management and maintenance of the NDG Sports Centre.

Applebaum is accused of asking for cash kickbacks in exchange for ensuring the projects were approved by his administration.

His lawyer declined to call anywitnesses after the prosecution rested its case on Tuesday.

Applebaum has always maintained his innocence.

Defence lawyer PierreTeasdalewill deliver his closing arguments on Monday, then it will be up to the judge to review the evidence and render a decision.

• CBC's full coverage of the Michael Applebaum trial