An arrest warrant has been issued for former advertising executive Jean Lafleur, who has been charged with 35 counts of with fraud in relation to his involvement in the sponsorship program.

"The amount (of the fraud) is basically $1.5 million," Crown prosecutor Ann-Mary Beauchemin told reporters Monday.

Issuing the warrant may not be easy. Lafleur has not been seen in Canada since 2005.

"Mr. Lafleur has no known address ... in the province of Quebec or elsewhere in Canada, that's why we asked for a warrant for his arrest," she said.

The lease on Lafleur's Montreal apartment is set to expire on May 1. The warrant says a lawyer visited Lafleur's apartment last month to empty its contents as the lease agreement has not been renewed. Source...