Huot Group debacle: Stéphan Huot’s ex-spouse admits to having produced a false document

The ex-wife of deposed promoter Stéphan Huot admitted to having produced a false document to deceive a bank while she was vice-president of finance at the Huot Group, at the request of her lover and boss.

• Also read: Huot Group debacle: police open criminal investigation

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Sophie Larochelle made this confession on December 9, while she was questioned by the lawyer who represents the companies of Robert Giroux, this former financial partner of Stéphan Huot sued for $150 million by millionaires from Quebec. The interrogation took place on the sidelines of the bankruptcy of the Huot Group, in which Giroux’s companies are creditors.

The former manager, who is a member of the Order of Chartered Accountants of Quebec, admitted to having made a document falsely suggesting that Société de placement Huot had paid its self-assessment of nearly $2.5 million in taxes to the end of construction of the first phase of the Ariela rental complex, in December 2022.

However, the taxes had never been paid. And the Laurentian Bank required proof of payment to release its financing, she explained.

Faced with the situation, Sophie Larochelle claims to have falsified a bank statement showing that the $2.5 million had been paid on November 18, 2022. And the modified document would have been sent to the banking institution on December 13, 2022.

Under the influence of Huot

«[Ce document-là]Mr. Huot asked me to prepare it,” whispered Sophie Larochelle, who was in a relationship with her boss from 2018 until the collapse of the Huot Group at the start of 2023.

Sophie Larochelle knew that the document was false and that the self-assessment had not been paid, she conceded. She claims to have acted under the influence of Huot, who put “a lot of pressure” to obtain this disbursement from the bank before the holiday period.

The one who was vice-president of finance of the Huot Group from 2017 to 2023 and who was head of the air rescue company Airmedic until last September claims to have been only a “transmission belt” in this story . She said she was “manipulated”.

«C’[était] difficult for me […] I was under the influence of Mr. Huot. He asked me to produce this document,” she testified, adding that she worked in an “environment which [était] very difficult”.

“Monuncles”

Sophie Larochelle also asserts that Stéphan Huot could improve or round upwards the figures for his rental properties, commonly called rent rolls.

Generally, the number of units rented as well as the sum of rents received make it possible to calculate the value of rental properties and to seek financing accordingly, M^e Sylvain Rigaud, who led the interrogation.

“As far as I know, he did. No doubt […] Stéphan could add “monuncles”,” said the former manager, explaining that this expression was used to designate fictitious tenants.

Huot defends himself

Called to react to these allegations, Stéphan Huot affirmed that he “never authorized nor requested such practices”.

“Madame Larochelle was in charge of the finances, she had complete autonomy” for this purpose, he commented in a brief written statement.

– With Pierre-Paul Biron

What she said

“Mr. Huot made us do things at speed, under pressure, in a rush. He could call us 15 times to ask us to send something. It was madness.”

“We followed Stéphan’s instructions. Stéphan wanted us to send the information. I sent the information. I was a transmission belt in history.”