OTTAWA, March 12 (UPI) -- A Canadian Liberal senator has been found guilty of fraud and breach of trust for misusing public funds by an Ottawa judge.
Sen. Raymond Lavigne, 65, "used and intended to use his public office for a purpose other than the public good," Ontario Superior Court Judge Robert Smith said in his ruling Friday.
Lavigne, one of Quebec's senators, was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2007 on several charges, including allegations he billed the Senate $12,365.50 for travel actually made by one of his employees when the real cost had been $2,700, Postmedia News said.
Additionally, court heard Lavigne had one of his staff cut down trees on government time on his property in Quebec rather than hiring someone to do it, the report said.
Lavigne was appointed to the Senate in 2002, but was suspended when he was arrested. He has since been paid $700,000 in salary and office expenses, CTV News reported.
A sentencing date was not announced, but Lavigne faces a maximum prison sentence of 14 years for the fraud conviction and five years for the breach-of-trust count, the reports said.
His lawyer said there would likely be an appeal.
