Tony Accurso heads to court to fight appearance before Charbonneau

Controversial construction magnate Tony Accurso is going to court to try to avoid being forced to appear before Quebec's commission of inquiry into construction corruption.

Accursowas arrested in April 2012in a sweep by Quebec's anti-corruption unit (UPAC) and faces a string of charges, including fraud, conspiracy, influence-peddling, breach of trust and two counts of defrauding the government.

• Key players in Quebec's construction inquiry
• Quebec anti-corruption raids net 14 arrests, 47 charges
• Accurso, charged with fraud, released by police

He wasarrested once again a year ago, this time for his alleged role in a $3-million tax-evasion scheme.

Accurso received a notice on July 18to appear as a witness before the Charbonneau commission when hearings resume this fall.

No date has yet been set, however the document said he could be called to testify between Sept. 3 and Dec. 20.

Hehas adatein Quebec Superior Court on Sept. 6 to argue against his appearance, on the grounds that his testimony will incriminate him.

Revenue Quebec charges, too

Accurso is also facing more than 900 chargesrelated to an investigation by Revenue Quebec.If convicted, he couldface fines of more than $8.5 million in addition to prison time.

The former business mogulquit the construction businesslast October, apologizing for the turmoil swirling around his group of companies.

"My decision to resign is matched by a hope to see the companies continue to participate actively in construction in Quebec," he said.