The sentencing hearing for Michael Applebaum on Wednesday heard pleas for leniency from the former mayor's tearful son and the family's rabbi, while the Crown asked the judge to make an example of him.

Last month, Quebec Court Judge Louise Provost found Applebaum guilty of eight corruption-related charges. The maximum sentence he could face is five years in prison.

The charges pre-date Applebaum's climb to the Montreal mayor's office, relating to two instances where bribes were exchanged for bureaucratic favours when he was the borough mayor of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

Prosecutor Nathalie Kléber argued that Applebaum's sentence should be "significant, but reasonable" and asked for less than the maximum: two years in prison, followed by two years' probation.

She argued the sentence should send a message to Quebecers that there are consequences for Applebaum's actions.

As examples of jurisprudence, Kléber cited the cases of ex-Liberal organizer Jacques Corriveau, who was handed a four-year prison term, and ex-lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault, who was sentenced to 18 months in jail.​​

Zajdel case similar, defence lawyer says

Defence lawyer Pierre Teasdale countered that his client was found guilty of accepting kickbacks worth about $33,000 total — far less than the roughly $7 million Corriveau was accused of pocketing, or nearly $430,000, in Thibault's case.

He suggested, instead, that the judge should hand down a suspended sentence or a 12 to 15-month mixed sentence.

A mixed sentence would leave it up to the judge to divide that period into a combination of punishments, such as community service, probation or jail time.

​Teasdale argued that Applebaum's case is closer to that of former Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce city councillor Saulie Zajdel, who was arrested in the same anti-corruption sweep as Applebaum and avoided serving jail time.

The judge is expected to deliver her decision on March 30.

​Son of former mayor: 'He seems defeated now'

Applebaum's 23-year-old son, Dylan Applebaum, tearfully told the Quebec court that his father has always been there for him, and he's always been there for his father. (Dylan Applebaum/Facebook)

The defence provided several character references in favour of a lighter sentence for Applebaum, including testimony from his 23-year-old son, Dylan Applebaum.

The university student choked up several times as he talked about life at home, describing how his father was loyal and how he's always been there for him.

"The way he's raised me and the values he's put in me, I couldn't not be here," he told the court.

Dylan Applebaum lives at home with his parents, and he told the court how their family life has changed since his father was found guilty.

"He seems defeated now," he said.

"Especially the last couple of weeks, it's been a lot more sad around the house. Less joking."

With prompting from the defence, he also listed his father's mental and physical issues. He described how Applebaum suffers from stomach issues — specifically, colitis.

"Physically, he's not great, mentally, he's not great either."

Rabbi calls Applebaum 'a broken man'

Michael Applebaum's lawyer, Pierre Teasdale (right), called the former mayor's son to testify during his client's sentencing hearing. (Radio-Canada)

During his testimony, Dylan Applebaum explained how much his family depends on his father.

"If my dad was to go to jail, it wouldn't just be affecting him."

He said his grandmother relies on her son as a caregiver, and if the former mayor is sentenced to prison time, Dylan Applebaum told the court he'd have to consider dropping out of university to care for her.

Senior Rabbi Alan Bright, of Montreal's Shaare Zedek Congregation, wrote in a letter submitted in court that Applebaum has already paid 'an exorbitant price for his actions.' (Shaare Zedek Congregation) Those sentiments were echoed in a letter submitted to the court by Rabbi Alan Bright, of Montreal's Shaare Zedek Congregation.

Bright calls Applebaum "a precious and devoted son to an elderly mother who so desperately needs him."

Bright, who has known the family for more than ten years, details the drastic changes he's observed in Applebaum in the three years since his arrest.

"I can attest to the fact that the defendant has gone from an upbeat, zestful man ... a man who cannot say no to his fellow man regardless of religion, colour, race, rank, fame or fortune. Today that same man is a broken man."

He describes Applebaum as suffering from the pain of having failed his family, lost his dignity and forced to endure being shunned by the public.

At the end of his letter, Bright begs Judge Louise Provost to show leniency in her sentencing decision, asking her to consider "his incarceration will serve no useful purpose to a man who is of no threat to anybody, other than perhaps himself, and has paid an exorbitant price for his actions."

Guilty of 2 kickback schemes

In January, Judge Louise Provost found Applebaum guilty of eight out of 14 charges: fraud on the government, conspiracy to commit fraud on the government, breach of trust and conspiracy to commit breach of trust.

He is guilty of two counts of each charge — one for each kickback scheme in question.

One case concerned a real estate development, which never went ahead, on Montreal's de Troie Avenue in Côte-des-Neiges. The other was a management contract for the NDG Sports Centre.

Last month the defence said it would study the case carefully before deciding whether to appeal.

Judge found key witness credible

Hugo Tremblay testified that at 27, he was a keen, young employee when he started to work for Michael Applebaum. 'I did what Michael Applebaum said to do,' he told the court. (Radio-Canada)

During the trial, the court heard about DVD boxes stuffed with cash and a meeting at which a witness recalled Applebaum saying either, "Elections are very expensive," or "Elections aren't cheap," before he was encouraged to pay thousands of dollars in cash for a political fundraiser.

The case weighed heavily on key witness Hugo Tremblay, Applebaum's former right-hand man and political aide.

Tremblay testified that it was Applebaum who taught him how to arrange illegal fundraising and solicit cash donations from real estate promoters.

The defence tried to shake the credibility of Tremblay, however, the judge said in her decision that she found his testimony "articulate and sincere."