Pamela Porter pleaded guilty Dec. 19, 2014, to two counts of laundering the proceeds of crime for her part in diverting public funds away from the McGill hospital construction project and allegedly into the pockets of her co-accused. The Crown set aside a charge of conspiracy.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
Pamela Porter will go to jail for admitting she laundered millions of dollars stolen from the public purse.
Ms. Porter on Thursday broke ranks with nine other co-accused in an alleged $22.5-million fraud scheme, and pleaded guilty to two counts of laundering the proceeds of crime for her part in diverting public funds away from the McGill hospital construction project and allegedly into the pockets of her co-accused. The Crown set aside a charge of conspiracy.
Under the plea agreement in a Quebec court, Ms. Porter was sentenced to two years in prison on top of the six months she has already served.
Through her lawyer, Marc-Antoine Carette, Ms. Porter admitted she was "willfully blind" to the source of the money as she laundered millions.
"She did not question the transactions when a normal, reasonable person should have," added prosecutor Marie-Hélène Giroux, who refused to say if Ms. Porter will testify against others as part of her plea bargain.
The details of Ms. Porter's crimes were placed under a temporary publication ban because others still face trial in the case. Their lawyers will argue in a hearing on Friday that the details could prejudice their chance of a fair trial.
Prosecutor Paul Mercier did say Ms. Porter has forfeited to the Crown about $5.5-million in property and a small amount of cash. Details about the properties cannot be revealed under the ban. Mr. Mercier said his proceeds of crime unit is pursuing other missing funds related to the case.
Ms. Porter, 54, has spent minimal time in Canada, living in the Bahamas.
Les Perreaux