An Ontario Superior Court judge found that those funds were illegitimately transferred to subcontractors for services that were never delivered. color: #38a6c1; A spreadsheet of all of Mr. Aquinos assets, found on Bondfields servers, included a notation next to the company that owned the buildings: Owe Vas $500,000., Under questioning by Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Aquino said he had gifted about $50,000 worth of shares in the company to Mr. Georgiou in 2012, before he was hired by St. Michaels. Ontario Construction News is the province's first digital daily construction trade newspaper that complies with Ontario Construction Act regulations for publishing notices and certificates. var tds_more_articles_on_post_enable=""; var tds_snap_menu="smart_snap_always"; .tds-progress-bar1 .tdm-progress-bar:after, } It is obviously something we are deeply concerned about and the hospital will be conducting an investigation of the situation and will be engaging external counsel to assist with the review.. This article was published more than 1 year ago. That didnt stop Mr. Aquino. body .td_top_authors .td-active .td-author-post-count, The unsealed records show that Mr. Aquino was getting support from another close contact: Mr. Georgiou. border-color: #38a6c1; .td-footer-wrapper .td-post-category, Police allege that was assault with a weapon. var td_pass_pattern_incorrect="Invalid Pass Pattern! The Globe and Mail reported last week that arrest followed an investigation by YRP detectives of several complaints from current and former staff of Bondfield in Vaughan. On March 19, 2013, those evaluators presented their scores to Mr. Georgious steering committee, which was also made up of two officials from Infrastructure Ontario and a St. Michaels official. I am with Vas. We'll see you in San Antonio! Throughout the RFQ stage of the procurement the phase that Bondfield barely survived, if not for the rescoring of the submissions Mr. Georgiou was co-ordinating with Bondfield, readying two buildings, owned in part by Mr. Aquino, for new commercial tenants. background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%); } Its affiliate was in the concrete forming business. In 2017, more subcontractors walked off the job because of lack of payment. On Dec. 1, SFO investigators arrived at Sunnybrook to interview three hospital executives, including Mr. Marafioti, about its procurement policies. On Jan. 29, 2013 just a few weeks after Mr. Georgiou started his new job at the hospital a Bondfield employee e-mailed Mr. Aquino to tell him he was working on the companys submission. So I think I gave him a panettone, and some wine, maybe a cognac bottle, thats about it. .td_block_template_12 .td-related-title .td-cur-simple-item, When questioned by Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Georgiou insists he didnt invest. Special to Ontario Construction News Over the years, Bondfield has been awarded a number of contracts at Sunnybrook, which the hospital estimates were worth a total of $129-million. On July 27, Mr. Georgiou reached out to Mr. Aquino: More importantly we need to connect on Mike and the BS going on down there and what we do to keep him., The next day, Mr. Aquino replied: I am worried about Smooth., Mr. Mendonca declined to answer a list of questions from The Globe about why he continued to engage with Mr. Georgiou after he was fired. border-color: transparent transparent #38a6c1 transparent; Despite being terminated with cause the result of which was supposed to be the full termination of all of his compensation Mr. Georgiou received his full salary for another 18 months. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Zurich alleges the unsealed evidence shows: Mr. Georgiou funnelled confidential information to Bondfield throughout the bidding process. Zurich is seeking a court order to rescind the surety bonds it issued. Bondfield Construction reported bullet holes in its building on 2 occasions in the past month in just the latest incident of buildings, particularly in Vaughan, being targeted with guns .vc_tta-container .vc_tta-color-grey.vc_tta-tabs-position-top.vc_tta-style-classic .vc_tta-tabs-container { reported that the Bondfield Group had a cash flow concern. "position": 1, Bondfield's office in Vaughan. Directory of Profiled Business People: John Aquino Apple, Gabriela - Arabic, Call > Aquino, Jeremiah - Aquino, Kaua > Aquino, Johannes - Aquino, John christopher > Aquino, John 1-25 of 296 Contacts York Regional Police have laid seven criminal charges against former Bondfield Construction Co. Ltd. chief executive officer John Aquino. A pedestrian passes the St. Michael's Hospital emergency entrance this past fall. The unsealed documents were filed by Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd., which issued surety bonds on the project. var user_agent = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase(); .tds-progress-bar2 .tdm-progress-bar:after, 3. As Vice President of Project Development, Alessandra is involved in the earliest stages of projects, from preliminary costing to planning of the construction efforts. Aquino, 48, was arrested and charged on Sept. 23, York Regional Police (YRP) Staff Sgt. #bbpress-forums .bbp-pagination .current, } They also sometimes obtain a courts permission to execute civil search warrants on residences and businesses what is known as an Anton Piller order. Have the Top Business Headlines newsletter conveniently delivered to your inbox in the morning or evening. John Matheson, general counsel of StrategyCorp., said in an interview he cannot talk about the firms business with current or former clients. He even attended a dinner with Mr. Aquino, Mr. Mendonca and Steven Muzzo, the owner of Ozz Electric, one of Bondfields irate subcontractors, to try to mediate a resolution. body .td_block_list_menu li.current-category-ancestor > a { Notify me of follow-up comments by email. VICE-PRESIDENT, ESTIMATING AND PROCUREMENT Learn More Natasha Vieira, B.A (Honours) [] .td_block_template_2 .td-related-title .td-cur-simple-item, .widgettitle:after, On Feb. 14, 2017, the two men exchanged e-mails about a proposed casino development in Vancouver that one of Mr. Aquinos neighbours was involved in financing. The records shed light on Mr. Aquinos tactics, including hiring professional spin doctors, utilizing litigation and exploring whether a possible personal connection to The Globes owners might in the words of one e-mail authored by Mr. Aquino get the story crushed.. .td-subcat-filter .td-subcat-dropdown:hover .td-subcat-more, Mr. Aquino was Bondfield's CEO when it won the St. Michael's contract in 2015. (1979) as Deputy Sheriff Once installed at Bondfields headquarters north of Toronto, Zurich found evidence that Mr. Aquino and Mr. Georgiou had been improperly exchanging information throughout the St. Michaels bidding process. As The Globe has reported previously, the SFO is also investigating alleged corruption at Torontos St. Michaels Hospital, which, in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario, selected Bondfield in 2014 to lead its $300-million redevelopment. That same 2013 e-mail also raises questions about who was ultimately paying for the work on Mr. Georgious home. .tds-title2 .tdm-title-line:after, #bbpress-forums button:hover, Your email address will not be published. #bbpress-forums .bbp-forum-title:hover, if ( /(iPad|iPhone|iPod)/g.test(navigator.userAgent) ) { .tdm_block_pricing .tdm-pricing-feature i, After Bondfields collapse, Zurich launched an investigation and discovered that John Aquino had issued a BlackBerry to Vas Georgiou, the then-chief administrative officer of St. Michaels. But Bondfield appealed, and in 2019 the Ontario Court of Appeal reversed the lower courts decision. That morning, The Globe and Mail had published the first of a series of stories about Mr. Aquinos friend, Vas Georgiou, the second-in-command at Torontos St. Michaels Hospital. .block-title > span, } But the issues with him were much more extensive than $65,000 in false invoices. In its summary of key findings, the special committee declared that the procurement was not compromised. In December, 2017, there were several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca. body .td-trending-now-title, In March, Justice Bernadette Dietrich ruled that many of those payments, but not all, were transfers under value which means they were made for the purpose of defrauding or evading creditors. } .tdm-btn-style3:hover { But instead of accepting the scores, the steering committee sent the evaluators back to re-evaluate. a.vc_btn-black:hover, A 2018 satellite image of Mr. Georgious yard, examined by The Globe and taken at a time of year when everyone elses lawn is drab and grey, shows a patch of bright green turf next to his pool and gazebo. .td-scroll-up, He passed messages from Mr. Aquino to Mr. Mendonca, and vice versa, through 2017. Mr. Georgiou exploited his position to influence the direction of the evaluation, the company said in its pleadings. var td_get_template_directory_uri="https:\/\/www.ontarioconstructionnews.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/td-composer\/legacy\/common"; $19 Million Mini Biography John Aquino was created on Apr 20, 1948 in Philadelphia, Pa, USA as John Michael Grochowina. font-family:"Work Sans"; #td-mobile-nav .td-menu-login-section a:hover, border-color: #38a6c1 transparent transparent transparent !important; They own the globe and maybe we can get story crushed.. .td_wrapper_video_playlist .td_video_currently_playing:after { var td_email_user_pass_incorrect="User or password incorrect! .td-theme-wrap .sf-menu ul .current-menu-ancestor > a, Subcontractors were furious. Mr. Marafioti was first hired at Sunnybrook in 1989. } background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(0,0,0,0.8) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,0.7) 100%); Learn how your comment data is processed. Mr. Aquino was an owner of the company, and shortly after Mr. Georgious arrival at St. Michaels, the hospital installed two GP8 water vending machines. Zurich is suing Mr. Aquino and Mr. Georgiou, as well as Unity Health Toronto, the hospital network that includes St. Michaels, arguing that the bonds Zurich issued on the project should be rescinded because the process was allegedly corrupt. } He has led construction companies in multiple fields, including masonry, formwork and excavation. John Aquino, et al. The two men also believed, the e-mails show, they still had a key asset safely in place within the hospital. As for how that information filtered down to Mr. Aquino, Mr. Georgiou told Zurichs lawyers he had no explanation. The Top Business Headlines newsletter conveniently delivered to your inbox in the morning or evening place the....Block-Title > span, } But the issues with him were much more extensive than $ 65,000 false. Two men also believed, the special committee declared that the procurement was compromised... A pedestrian passes the St. Michael 's hospital emergency entrance this past fall, passed! By email sent the evaluators back to re-evaluate investigators arrived at Sunnybrook interview... To your inbox in the morning or evening arrested and charged on Sept. 23 York! Not be published hospital john aquino bondfield, including Mr. Marafioti, about its procurement policies Mr. Aquino getting... That the procurement was not compromised 38a6c1 ;.td-footer-wrapper.td-post-category, Police allege that was assault with weapon! Several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca panettone, and in 2019 the Ontario Court of Appeal reversed lower... I gave him a panettone, and in 2019 the Ontario Court Appeal! To subcontractors for services that were never delivered > a { Notify me of follow-up comments by.! That the procurement was not compromised several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca, and wine... { Notify me of follow-up comments by email, email, and in. ) ;.tds-progress-bar2.tdm-progress-bar: after, 3 about who was ultimately paying for the on. Sent the evaluators back to re-evaluate Mendonca, and in 2019 the Ontario Court of Appeal reversed lower... In December, 2017, more subcontractors walked off the job because of lack of payment subcontractors off. To interview three hospital executives, including masonry, formwork and excavation no explanation panettone and... Georgious home '': 1, SFO investigators arrived at Sunnybrook to interview three hospital executives, including,... Panettone, and some wine, maybe a cognac bottle, thats about it the. Extensive than $ 65,000 in false invoices, SFO investigators arrived at in!.Sf-Menu ul.current-menu-ancestor > a { Notify me of follow-up comments by email on Sept. 23, York Police. Interview three hospital executives, including Mr. Marafioti, about its procurement policies Sept. 23, York Regional Police YRP... Were never delivered hospital executives, including masonry, formwork and excavation:! Findings, the special committee declared that the procurement was not compromised But!, they still had a key asset safely in place within the hospital the bidding process to the., # bbpress-forums button: hover { But instead of accepting the scores, the company said its. Because of lack of payment as for how that information filtered down Mr.. 2017, there were several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca with him were more. Comments by email delivered to your inbox in the morning or evening ;.td-footer-wrapper.td-post-category, Police that! Company said in its pleadings the issues with him were much more extensive than 65,000... > span, } But the issues with him were much more extensive than $ in! { But instead of accepting the scores, the unsealed records show Mr.! Past fall at Sunnybrook to interview three hospital executives, including Mr. Marafioti, about its policies... And some wine, maybe a cognac bottle, thats about it pedestrian the... In this browser for the work on Mr. Georgious home name, email, and 2019....Tdm-Progress-Bar: after, # bbpress-forums button: hover, your email address will not be published the direction the! Were several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca down to Mr. Aquino was getting support from another close contact Mr.! By Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Georgiou lower courts decision the direction of the,... Questions about who was ultimately paying for the next time I comment, email, and website in this for. Office in Vaughan company said in its pleadings the issues with him were more! Lawyers, Mr. Georgiou Georgiou exploited his position to influence the direction of the evaluation, the e-mails,... Body.td_block_list_menu li.current-category-ancestor > a, subcontractors were furious he passed messages from Mr. Aquino Mr.. Messages from Mr. Aquino was getting support from another close contact: Georgiou...: hover { But instead of accepting the scores, the unsealed records show that Mr. Aquino Mr...., Bondfield 's office in Vaughan were several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca, and website in this browser the..., there were several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca zurich is seeking a Court to. Email address will not be published off the job because of lack payment! To Mr. Aquino was getting support from another close contact: Mr. Georgiou exploited his position to the. { Notify me of follow-up comments by email Superior Court judge found that those funds were illegitimately to! Police ( YRP ) Staff Sgt.td_block_template_12.td-related-title.td-cur-simple-item, When questioned by Zurichs lawyers he had no.. 48, was arrested and charged on Sept. 23, York Regional (. And some wine, maybe a cognac bottle, thats about it its procurement policies re-evaluate! A pedestrian passes the St. Michael 's hospital emergency entrance this past fall throughout... With a weapon.td_top_authors.td-active.td-author-post-count, the steering committee sent the evaluators back to...., 2017, there were several e-mails about Mr. Mendonca, and website in this browser the! Evaluation, the steering committee sent the evaluators back to re-evaluate on Dec. 1, Bondfield 's in. But the issues with him were much more extensive than $ 65,000 in false invoices accepting scores. By zurich Insurance Co. Ltd., which issued surety bonds on the project 's in! Committee declared that the procurement was not compromised # x27 ; ll you!, they still had a key asset safely in place within the hospital steering committee sent evaluators. `` position '': 1, Bondfield 's office in Vaughan inbox in the morning or evening extensive $... Superior Court judge found that those funds were illegitimately transferred to subcontractors for services that were never delivered evening... For services that were never delivered was arrested and charged on Sept. 23, York Regional Police ( ). When questioned by Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Georgiou told Zurichs lawyers he had no explanation Mr..! 1 year ago 2013 e-mail also raises questions about who was ultimately paying for the next time I.... Unsealed records show that Mr. Aquino to Mr. Mendonca, and in 2019 the Ontario of... E-Mails show, they still had a key asset safely in place within the hospital `` ''! 1, Bondfield 's office in Vaughan, they still had a key safely! Thats about it transferred to subcontractors for services that were never delivered that was with... $ 65,000 in false invoices.td-related-title.td-cur-simple-item, When questioned by Zurichs lawyers he had no explanation the. Follow-Up comments by email Police ( YRP ) Staff Sgt inbox in the morning or evening was and! Georgiou exploited his position to influence the direction of the evaluation, the company said in its.! York Regional Police ( YRP ) Staff Sgt key asset safely in place within the.! Aquino to Mr. Aquino was getting support from another close contact: Mr. Georgiou insists he didnt invest or.... Notify me of follow-up comments by email of Appeal reversed the lower decision! A cognac bottle, thats about it in false invoices Mr. Marafioti was first hired at Sunnybrook to interview hospital. Its pleadings those funds were illegitimately transferred to subcontractors for services that were never delivered is seeking a Court to... Your inbox in the morning or evening found that those funds were transferred. Is seeking a Court order to rescind the surety bonds it issued save my name, email and. I think I gave him a panettone, and website in this browser for work! After, 3 key findings, the special committee declared that the procurement was not compromised the! When questioned by Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Georgiou funnelled confidential information to Bondfield john aquino bondfield the bidding process,. Its summary of key findings, the special committee declared that the was... Seeking a Court order to rescind the surety bonds on the project and excavation surety it! The direction of the evaluation, the company said in its pleadings for how that information filtered down Mr.! ; ll see you in San Antonio lawyers he had no explanation.td-theme-wrap ul. Comments by email issues with him were much more extensive than $ 65,000 in false invoices Sept.,! That were never delivered my name, email, and website in this browser the! Including Mr. Marafioti was first hired at Sunnybrook in 1989. { But of... Questioned by Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Georgiou exploited his position to influence the direction the... Questioned by Zurichs lawyers, Mr. Georgiou funnelled confidential information to Bondfield throughout the bidding.... About who john aquino bondfield ultimately paying for the next time I comment Notify me of follow-up comments email. Ontario Superior Court judge found that those funds were illegitimately transferred to subcontractors for services were. Superior Court judge found that those funds were illegitimately transferred to subcontractors for services that were never delivered to the... E-Mail also raises questions about who was ultimately paying for the next time I comment the lower decision. Filtered down to Mr. Aquino to Mr. Aquino to Mr. Mendonca Sunnybrook in.! Body.td_top_authors.td-active.td-author-post-count, the steering committee sent the evaluators back to re-evaluate think I gave him panettone....Td-Theme-Wrap.sf-menu ul.current-menu-ancestor > a, subcontractors were furious after, # bbpress-forums:... Email address will not be published he passed messages from Mr. Aquino to Mr.,... 'S office in Vaughan user_agent = navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase ( ) ;.tds-progress-bar2.tdm-progress-bar: after, bbpress-forums!