**Former Hospital Executive and Construction CEO Convicted of Fraud** A former hospital executive and the ex-president of a major Ontario construction firm have been convicted of fraud related to a $300 million expansion project at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. Vas Georgiou, the former chief administrative officer at the hospital, and John Aquino, the ex-president of Bondfield Construction, were found guilty on two counts each of fraud over $5,000 in a Toronto courtroom on Tuesday. Superior Court Justice Peter Bawden stated that the evidence against the defendants was "overwhelming." He noted that Georgiou provided insider information to Aquino through secret emails, which was "confidential, highly material and obviously intended to assist Bondfield to win the procurement." Bawden emphasized that such conduct is considered objectively dishonest, especially in the context of a strictly regulated public procurement process. The judge expressed concern that the defendants' actions compromised public trust in the procurement process, stating, "Public confidence in the responsible use of public funds for infrastructure projects depends on a procurement process that is genuinely competitive." He warned that their dishonest behavior could deter qualified bidders from participating in future projects, ultimately damaging market integrity. After the verdict, Aquino reacted with disbelief, saying, "Are you f--king kidding?" His lawyer, Alan Gold, indicated that they would carefully review the judge's ruling, which he described as "problematic as a matter of law," but did not confirm whether an appeal would be pursued. Georgiou's lawyer, Peter Brauti, declined to comment as the case is still pending sentencing. Prosecutors alleged that between 2013 and 2015, Georgiou and Aquino colluded to manipulate the procurement process in favor of Bondfield, which was once a significant player in Ontario's public construction sector. Evidence presented during the trial included a pre-existing commercial relationship between the two men, as well as undisclosed ties that Georgiou had with Aquino's family business. The Crown argued that these undisclosed relationships constituted a conflict of interest that Georgiou was obligated to reveal. They claimed that the actions of both men defrauded St. Michael's Hospital and taxpayers who funded the expansion project. The trial, which began last November, featured testimony from various hospital and construction executives. Georgiou took the stand in his defense, while Aquino did not testify. The prosecution highlighted that the competition for the contract was supposed to be transparent, yet the defendants undermined this principle by using a secret phone and email account to communicate during the bidding process. The judge noted that Bondfield should not have won the contract, which was intended to modernize the hospital with a new patient tower and expanded emergency facilities. The project was initially scheduled for completion in 2019 but has faced significant delays due to Bondfield's financial collapse, one of the largest bankruptcies in Canadian construction history. Following Bondfield's insolvency, the project was taken over by EllisDon, one of the losing bidders, but has since fallen years behind schedule. Georgiou was dismissed from St. Michael's in November 2015 after reports surfaced regarding his undisclosed connections to Aquino during the bidding process. As the case moves toward sentencing, the Crown has indicated it will seek substantial prison terms for both defendants. The outcome of this case raises serious questions about the integrity of public procurement processes in Ontario and the potential for corruption at senior levels of government and industry.