(June 27, 2013) The Kerala High Court has directed India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to divide the SNC-Lavalin trial charge sheet so the trial can begin. Two of the nine accused, SNC-Lavalin VP Klaus Triendl and SNC-Lavalin itself, have failed to appear in court despite several summons.  According to press reports, Indian authorities are now seeking the extradition of Mr. Triendl, but Canada’s Department of Justice won’t confirm or deny the existence of the extradition request “due to the confidential nature of state-to-state communications.”

CBI told to split SNC Lavalin trial charge sheet

Published by the Business Standard on June 18, 2013

The Kerala High Court Tuesday directed that the trial in the SNC Lavalin case, in which CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan is an accused, can go ahead by splitting the charge sheet.

The court’s order came while hearing a petition from Vijayan, the party’s state secretary, stating that the trial is yet to begin because two of the accused in the case are yet to be given the charge sheet.

Of the nine accused, the then SNC Lavalin vice president, Claus Trendl [sic] and the company are the two who are yet to be given the charge sheet, nor have they appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) trial court here.

The CBI had in June 2009 filed charge sheets against nine accused in the Rs.374 crore scam related to the Canada-based SNC Lavalin company, which was given a contract to renovate three power plants in the state. Vijayan, as the state power minister, had inked the final agreement with the Canadian firm in 1997.

The CBI wanted that the trial should begin on a single charge sheet but all these years, despite their best efforts, were unable to bring the remaining two accused before the law thus delaying the start of the trial.

Vijayan is currently on bail and this case had generated huge interest because it was the first time ever that a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member had to appear before a court to secure bail in a corruption case.

More on this story

HC orders CBI to begin early trial in SNC Lavalin case

by Shaju Philip 

Published by The Indian Express on June 19, 2013

The Kerala High Court Tuesday ordered the CBI court to start an early trial in the SNC Lavalin graft case in which CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan is the seventh accused. The order comes as a relief to Vijayan who has been demanding a speedy trial so that he can return to electoral politics.

The case pertains to alleged corruption in the renovation of the three hydel power projects awarded to Canadian firm SNC Lavalin. Vijayan moved the HC after the CBI court in the state capital rejected his plea to start an early trial after excluding the company SNC Lavalin and its vice-president, Klaus Triendl, both listed as accused.

The charge sheet filed in 2009 has named Triendl as sixth accused and the company itself as the ninth accused. Another Sidhartha Menon too had moved a similar plea.

Vijayan contended that four years after framing charges, the CBI has failed to secure the presence of Lavalin representative. The company executives had not appeared in the court despite the several summons.

Vijayan’s counsel alleged that the CBI was delaying the trial and that the case has “endangered his bright and brilliant political career”.

The HC admitted Viajayan’s contention that a speedy trial for an accused was a fundamental right. Judge C T Ravikumar directed the CBI to start trial and file separate chargesheet against the company and its vice-president.

An email exchange between the Department of Justice, Government of Canada, to an inquiry from Patricia Adams of Probe International for more information

On 29 January 2013 14:40, Saindon, Carole <Carole.Saindon@justice.gc.ca> wrote:

Background News

SNC-Lavalin corruption case: new court date set but plea for speedy trial dismissed