He looked every bit the part- to the non-military eye, of a wellturned out and decorated sergeant in the Canadian Forces..
Last year in the nation’s capital on the solemn occasion of Remembrance Day, November 11, last year Franck Gervais looked sharp in his uniform replete with medals including a rare medal of bravery, a hard to earn Pathfinders badge, a NATO Kosovo service medal for and a decoration for 12 years of service, parachute wings and maroon beret.
In fact he looked so good that he was interviewed on national television and then later went to the Canadian War Museum where he apparently regaled an author with some made- up war stories.
However, military people across the country watching on tv, spotted a number of inconsistencies, and it wasn’t too long before the 33 year-old construction worker was unmasked as a complete fraud who bought his medals and uniforms online and who was not a soldier at all, only serving as a cadet in the 1990’s.
Gervais, from Cantley Quebec appeared in an Ottawa court today where he pleaded guilty to two charges, of unlawful use of military uniforms and unlawful use of military decoration.
His lawyer briefly told reporters outside the court, “My client does feel remorse and apologizes for his actions”.
Gervais will be sentenced May 11.