The City of Laval has referred the conditions around the sale of a former city-owned lot on Jean-Béraud to the Sûreté du Québec. The referral took place on October 22, after Andrew McIntosh from Agence QMI published an article showing that the sale provided more than a million dollars profit to Les Placements Rizzuto (1982) Inc.
According to McIntosh, the city of Laval sold a 10,667 square-metre empty lot, Lot 1,732,094, to Les Placements Rizzuto (1982) Inc. in February 2010 for $463,000. The city did not set up a public tender, nor did they get a real-estate agent to evaluate its value. Instead, Laval’s executive committee approved the sale at an in-camera meeting in 2008. The money wasn’t transferred to Laval until February 2010 when the sale was finalized.
The sale documents were signed by Mélina Rizzuto, the daughter of former senator and Liberal Party organizer Pietro Rizzuto. According to Revenue Quebec, Mélina Rizzuto serves as secretary of Les Placements Rizzuto (1982) Inc. Giuseppe Zambito, the father of Lino Zambito, who testified at the Charbonneau Commission, is among the administrators.
On October 27, eight months after the sale was finalized, the territory was resold to 3562514 Canada Inc. for $1,675,000. According to McIntosh, the company owns the BMW and Mini auto dealership across the street from the empty lot. Revenue Quebec says the organization is owned by Gérardo D’argenio and 3562522 Canada Inc., which is also run by D’Argenio. D’Argenio has also donated to the federal Liberal Party.
The City of Laval has refused to comment while the police investigation is underway.
Note: This article appeared in the North & East version of the Suburban on Thursday, November 15.
