A Victoria-area man campaigning to be Canada's prime minister was convicted of five counts of GST fraud.
Raphael Louis is leader of the Civil Rights Party of Canada and has aspirations of leading the nation in 2020.
He is also secretary general of the Federal Association for the Advancement of Visible Minorities. The Canada Revenue Agency found in that position, Louis filed false GST returns for himself and the organization totalling $8.82 million in 2007.
The GST refunds were not granted.
In April 2008, an audit was launched into the FAAVM's GST claims, but Louis didn't provide documentation, citing confidentiality agreements with clients.
The guilty verdict was reached on Jan. 21 in provincial court. He has not yet been sentenced.
ecardone@vicnews.com