Information & Ethics Committee on Feb. 14th, 2008

[Giorgio Pelossi]

I don't remember. I remember only that the first payment was related to the land, that the Province of Newfoundland would give the land for free. The second payment was about this letter that was mentioned before, the letter of intent of the Canadian government to buy tanks.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

But you're not sure how much money was given?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

No, no, both times it was $2 million.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

So it was a total of $4 million?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

It was $2 million, yes--Canadian dollars.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

It was Canadian dollars; thank you.

You said that both times it was $2 million?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

Yes, one was $1.9 million, because $100,000 went to set up the Bear Head company. Schreiber set up the Bear Head company in his name.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Did that money come from the IAL account?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

Yes.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Did you handle the $2 million that was received from the Kensington Anstalt account?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

No, the money went to IAL, not Kensington.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Right, but apparently some money went to Kensington Anstalt as well--$2 million.

[Giorgio Pelossi]

It's possible, yes.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Pelossi, in February 1986, when Frank Moores opened up a Swiss bank account, what was the purpose of these accounts? Do you know?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

Yes, Schreiber told me that was in case we got the Airbus deal through. It was intended to put the money--the 25% each--in these accounts.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Pelossi, you opened your testimony today indicating that you made a lengthy statement to the police.

[Giorgio Pelossi]

Yes.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

We're also aware that the police here in Canada spent eight years investigating this matter. Do you have any new information to offer us now that was not available when you first testified before the police?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

No, nothing new.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Okay.

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

We're going now to Madame Lavallée.

You have the floor.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Thank you very much.

I am going to be speaking to you in French, Mr. Pelossi.

[Giorgio Pelossi]

No problem.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

You were the manager, a close associate of Karlheinz Schreiber from 1972 to 1991. Is that what you said?

[Giorgio Pelossi]

That is correct, yes.