That’s the fate of Richard Vallieres, as determined by the Supreme Court of Canada. Vallieres was the mastermind and ringleader responsible for stealing 2,700 tonnes of maple syrup valued at $18 million, from a central warehouse which stored syrup for a number of Quebec producers.
Canada’s highest Court overturned the Appeal Court’s decision, which allowed Vallieres to pay back only his profit from the heist ie, approx CAD$1 million, after deducting expenses etc.
So he gets to choose: Pay $9 million, or remain in jail for another 6 years – in addition to his current eight-year term.
I wonder if Vallieres actually had the money. If not, I doubt that he would be able to get a loan. I think he deserve it though; as the Court’s rationale goes, letting him pay back just the profit portion of the stolen goods is, in a way, ‘legitimizing his criminal activities’!
News-plus.ca 