Gestion Guychar (Canada) Inc. - Freeze orders extended

Decisions and Freeze and cease trade orders Securities

Montréal – At the request of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), the Bureau de décision et de révision en valeurs mobilières (BDRVM) issued a decision on July 30, 2008 extending for a period of 90 days the freeze orders issued against Gestion Guychar (Canada) Inc., Guy Charron, Richard Lanthier, Huguette Gauthier, Gérald Turp, Turp DTD Consultants inc., 177889 Canada inc., 3330575 Canada inc. and 3965121 Canada inc.

In its decision, the BDRVM considered the following:

  • Additional investors have contacted the AMF;
  • The AMF called on an investigative and forensic accounting firm to assist with its investigation, in particular with respect to the use of the funds;
  • The investigator testified that the initial reasons for the investigation were still valid;
  • The BDRVM notes that the AMF investigation is ongoing and it is of the opinion that extending the freeze orders is in the public's interest;
  • The respondents did not indicate their intention to be heard and consequently failed to establish that the reasons for the initial freeze order have ceased to exist;
  • The AMF launched penal proceedings and filed a total of 459 charges against four respondents.

In July 2008, the AMF launched penal proceedings and filed 459 charges against Richard Lanthier, Guy Charron, Huguette Gauthier and Gérald Turp. It is seeking prison terms and fines totalling $8,315,000.

Since February 2007, the BDRVM has issued two freeze and cease trade orders and orders to cease any activity as a securities adviser against Richard Lanthier, Guy Charron, Huguette Gauthier, Gérald Turp and Turp DTD Consultants inc. as well as several extensions of these orders.

The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) is the regulatory and oversight body for Québec’s financial sector.

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