Daniel Bard's alleged actions 'destructive,' business owner testifies as trial continues

Two Dieppe business owners testified Daniel Bard caused personal anguish and financial loss. 

"Daniel may have done a financial fraud, but what he did was really destructive for the rest of my life," Saly Davis testified as Bard's trial in Moncton provincial court resumed Wednesday.

Bard, 60, is being tried on 19 charges that include fraud, theft, money laundering and possession of property obtained by crime. 

Bard is accused of stealing and defrauding Davis & Dye Inc. of more than $5,000 between January 2016 and December 2020. Saly Davis, along with her husband and business partner Clinton Davis, owned that company. 

"This almost completely financially ruined us," Clinton testified Wednesday afternoon.

The Davises were among the business owners who spoke to CBC News in 2019 about their experience. 

They testified they sought guidance from 3+ Corp. and were paired with Bard who was a vice-president of investment attraction for the agency. They said they were nearing the end of a franchise agreement for a salon in Dieppe and were looking at what to do next, including buying a restaurant. 

Saly Davis said the pair met Bard at the 3+ office. She said when he saw the salon's financial statements, he suddenly became much more interested. 

Davis described him making copies of the records and "practically frolicking out of the room excited."

At a second meeting, Saly Davis said Bard pitched them on a "huge project" with his side business, VM Venture Management.

"'With these kind of numbers, I want to bring your business on board,'" Davis recalled him saying. 

Davis said his association with 3+, a municipally funded economic development agency serving the Moncton region, lent him credibility. Davis said there was an assumption a background check would have been done on 3+ employees given its role dealing with business financial information. 

During part of Davis's testimony, Susy Campos sat in the courtroom gallery taking notes. Campos led 3+ when the allegations against Bard were reported by media in 2019. The organization was later merged into the regional service commission.

Davis testified that the project meeting led to another at a restaurant where Bard presented the Davises with a document, saying they would need to put up $25,000 US to get a credit enhancement loan of $330,000 US. 

'Skin in the game'

The conditions, outlined in a copy of the document shown to Davis while testifying, said they would be repaid all but one per cent if Bard failed to secure the money. However, if they backed out, they would forfeit the funds. 

"'I've put my skin in the game … now you're going to have to put some skin in the game,'" Davis recalled Bard told them about the initial deposit. 

The project he wanted them to join involved buying the former Bell Aliant Building on Mapleton Road in Moncton, which would become home to multiple businesses.

Davis said the project included a plan for them to open their own salon and cosmetology academy there. Davis said they began working on contracts, buying inventory and other steps while Bard told them work was underway on the project and the financing promised. 

"It was always around the corner, on paper we were told nine to 14 weeks," Davis said about the timeline. 

Along the way, Davis said there were various meetings, calls, and messages with Bard. At one, Davis recalled he was excitedly jumping up and down. 

"'We're going to be a bank,'" Davis recalled him saying. The trial heard last week that Bard was telling employees of his company about working to stabilize a troubled Italian bank.

But, Davis said the promises didn't materialize. Eventually, she said communication with Bard broke down and they began to doubt his claims.

"The project became unclear, but he was avoiding us for a very long time," Davis said.

Davis testified that in the summer of 2019, they planned to confront Bard at a meeting in a restaurant. However, Davis said Bard immediately handed them a cheque for $25,000 to repay their deposit. 

Clinton Davis recorded the meeting, a recording which was entered into evidence. 

Saly Davis testified that Bard asked them to not immediately cash the cheque. 

However, the cheque was in Canadian dollars, so they asked for a cheque in American. The second cheque, dated July 18, 2019, was given to her with Bard again asking to hold off trying to cash it until he said to do so. 

Later, when they tried to cash it, Davis testified the bank refused to do so. 

Crown prosecutor Andrew Pollabauer asked if Bard ever received the credit enhancement he promised. 

"Zero," Davis replied. 

Pollabauer asked about repayment of the $25,000 US deposit. 

"Zero," Davis said. 

Impacts on life, business

Asked about the impact on her life, Davis paused for a moment.

She said it led to missing time with her children, "working like a dog on a project that didn't exist," alienated by other businesses and socially, being called crazy, along with financial impacts. 

And, Davis said, her husband still blames her for what happened. 

Clinton Davis said as a result of their experience, they lost any desire to associate with business groups in the Moncton area.

The trial is expected to continue Thursday.