Published: March 16, 2009
Securities

Montréal – The Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) has launched penal proceedings against Theodore Tsoukatos, Roger Corriveau, Line Vaillancourt and Ghislaine Pigeon in the Court of Québec (Criminal and Penal Division) in the district of Montréal and is seeking fines totalling $702,000.

The AMF filed 49 charges against Theodore Tsoukatos and is seeking fines in the amount of $306,000 for:

  • pursuing activities as a securities dealer without being registered as such with the AMF, thereby violating sections 148 and 202 of the Securities Act (the "Act") (23 counts); and
  • aiding, by act or omission, Natural Solutions International Inc. with the distribution of a form of investment governed by the Act without holding a prospectus approved by the AMF, thereby violating sections 11 and 202, with reference to sections 204 and 208 of the Act (26 counts).

Roger Corriveau faces 26 counts, and the AMF is seeking fines totalling $260,000 for:

  • aiding, by act or omission, Natural Solutions International Inc. with the distribution of a form of investment governed by the Act without holding a prospectus approved by the AMF.

The AMF also filed 16 charges against Line Vaillancourt and is seeking fines in the amount of $88,000 for:

  • pursuing activities as a securities dealer and/or adviser without being registered as such with the AMF (9 counts); and
  • aiding, by act or omission, Natural Solutions International Inc. with the distribution of a form of investment governed by the Act without holding a prospectus approved by the AMF (7 counts).

As well, the AMF filed 8 charges against Ghislaine Pigeon for:

  • pursuing activities as a securities dealer without being registered as such with the AMF (4 counts), and
  • aiding, by act or omission, Natural Solutions International Inc. with the distribution of a form of investment governed by the Act without holding a prospectus approved by the AMF (4 counts).

The fines being sought under these proceedings are double the minimum penalties prescribed by law.

Line Vaillancourt and Ghislaine Pigeon respectively face 14 and 37 counts for pursuing activities as a securities dealer without being registered as such under a penal proceeding launched by the AMF in May 2008.

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

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