Former Hells Angels Informant Faces Scrutiny in $5 Million Lawsuit
Montreal,QC – Benoit roberge,a former Hells Angels member who became a collaborating witness,testified this week in a civil lawsuit centered on a contractual agreement,facing questions about accusations he sold details and his criticisms of the Sûreté du Québec. The case,before Superior Court Justice Sylvain Lussier,involves a $5 million claim against Roberge.
Roberge’s testimony revealed he felt aggrieved by a month-long delay in being informed about a change in a witness’s statement regarding his case, a factor he stated nearly led him to accept a 12-year sentence rather of the eight he ultimately received. the defense, led by Mr.e Jean-Nicolas Loiselle,argued against delving into these accusations,stating,”Are we really going to start talking about the accusations of Mr. Roberge? It is not his trial that we are doing! it is a civil lawsuit on a contractual agreement. We are not in the process of making a commission of inquiry.”
According to testimony, Roberge allegedly offered to sell information for $125,000 concerning three formators and the psychological state of Sylvain Boulanger, another former Hells Angel who became a collaborating witness. Though, Boulanger ultimately did not testify in proceedings related to Operation Sharqc, a 2009 Sûreté du Québec operation that led to the arrest of numerous Hells Angels members across the province.
Roberge denied providing specific details about the locations where witnesses were hidden, stating, “I have not given any information on addresses or places thay were hidden. no one, not even investigators on the file, know this information and they are not shared between the Department of Witness Protection and the investigators. I did not take care of taking the declarations of Mr. Boulanger.”
The trial is ongoing and is scheduled to continue on thursday. Daniel Renaud can be reached at 514 285-7000, post 4918, or via email at drenaud@lapresse.ca.
