Nathalie Normandeau used as scapegoat by head of UPAC, Lino Zambito testifies

Former construction boss Lino Zambitosays Nathalie Normandeau'sarrest was precipitatedby thehead of Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC), RobertLafrenire, because he was about to losehis job.

Defence lawyers calledZambitoto testify on Wednesday as part of their request for a stay of proceedings in the charges laid against the former Liberal deputy premierand her five co-accused.

The lawyers argue evidence disclosed to the mediain past years hasmade it impossible for their clients to getafair trial.

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Zambitowasone of the star witnesses during theCharbonneaucommission, which looked into illegal funding of political parties linked to the construction world.

Hesaid UPAC investigators met him in December 2015, andthey seemed to be in a hurry to getinformation which could link people to collusion schemes.

"I said, 'You're in a rush because you need a big catch to renew your boss's mandate,'" Zambitoexplained. He told the court thatthe investigators' body language confirmed his suspicion.

Three months after the encounter,Normandeauwas arrested,along with her former chief of staff, BrunoLortie, former Liberal cabinet minister and fundraiserMarc-YvanCt, two formerPartiQubcoisstaffers and several figures associated with the engineering firm Roche (now known asNordaStelo).

The sixarefacing a slew of corruption-related charges in relation toa contract awarded for a water treatment plant inBoisbriand, Que.

'Gallant was too honest'

Zambitosaid Lafrenire's mandate was renewed shortly after the arrest.

He said this happened despiteinformation he had heard suggesting the Liberal cabinetwanted toappointDenis Gallant, a star lawyer with the Charbonneau commission who was later appointed as Montreal'sinspector general.

"Gallant was too honest and too dangerous for the Liberals," saidZambito, suggesting hewas "on theshort list" for the job.

Zambito said he wasn't 100 per centsure but thoughtthat information came to him from Guy Ouellette, a high-profile police officer and Liberal MNA who was himself arrested by UPAC in Oct. 2017butnever charged.

Ouellette is expected to testify Thursday.

Leaks to media

Zambitoalso deniedbeing the source of leaks to Quebec media between 2012 and 2017regarding corruption and collusion allegations against members of the Liberal Party of Quebec.

When asked byMarc-YvanCt'sdefence lawyer, JacquesLarochelle,if he knew where the leaks had come from,Zambitosaid "absolutely not."

Zambito fielded questions about a book he published in 2016 in which he described having been told about "damaging files" against the Liberals.

The main investigator in UPAC'sProjectJoug, which led to the arrests, also testified Wednesday.

MathieuVenne said he believes Normandeau andCtwere unfairly targeted and saidhe was surprised by the media hype and the public scrutiny that followed their arrests.

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"I felt they didn't deserve that," he said, adding they were judged by the public before havinga fair trial.

Venne explained thatProjectJoug was initially launched because of allegations againstdisgraced party fundraiserCt, who was said to be involved in financing for former MNA Sam Hamad.

Venne said he was floored when he watchedRadio-Canada'sEnqutereport, featuring emails exchanged between Ct and Hamad.

Quebec's ethics commissioner later ruled thatHamadshouldn't besanctioned for his actionsbut said he hadfailedto uphold the values of the National Assembly in his relations with Ct.

When Larochelle asked him if he knew who had leaked the documents, Venne said he first thought it wasCt, who could have wanted to cause a mistrial.

Venne said he has since changed his mind.

"Since Oct.25, I have my doubts," he said, acknowledging thatdate corresponded with the day of Ouellette's arrest.

In his request for a stay of proceedings for his client,Larochellealso requestedthat two journalists be called to testify to disclosetheir sources for stories which includedUPACfiles.

Radio-Canada's Marie-Maude Denis andl'Actualit'sLouisLacroixare challenging the request.