Michael Applebaum's preliminary hearing begins Monday

MichaelApplebaum will hear the Crown prosecutor's case against him beginningon Monday as hispreliminary hearing gets underway at the Montreal courthouse.

The former Montreal mayoris facing 14 charges including fraud, conspiracy and breach of trust. Those charges are related to events that arealleged to have happened duringhis timeas borough mayor ofCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grce.

The preliminary hearingwill determine whether there is enough evidence against Applebaum to pursue a criminal trial.

Applebaum served as Montreal's mayor from 2012 to 2013, after former mayor Grald Tremblayresigned amid non-formal accusations ofcorruption. Tremblay has never been charged with any crime.

Applebaumpreviouslyserved as a Montreal borough mayor from 2002 to 2012. From1994 to 2002, he servedas a city councillorand then as a cityexecutive committee member.

He was arrested in June 2013 by Quebec's anti-corruption unit, UPAC.

Applebaumhas consistently denied all charges against him and has vowed to fight them if his case goes to trial.

"Not only will Mr.Applebaummaintain his plea of notguilty, but he will vigorously defend himself against the charges he is facing and insist upon bringing the case to trial as soon as possible," his lawyerPierreTeasdaletold CBC News.