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Former Quebec lieutenant-governor Lise Thibault pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to six charges related to the alleged fraud of $700,000 while she was the Queen's representative in the province.

The wheelchair-bound Ms. Thibault, who held the position between 1997 and 2007, had her lawyer enter the plea and then choose a jury trial.

But Michel Massicotte did not exclude the possibility of his client eventually opting for a trial by judge alone.

“We've gone with judge and jury for now but that can change over time,” he told a news conference at the Quebec City courthouse.

Ms. Thibault has denied any wrongdoing, even though an auditor-general's report has said she claimed $700,000 in expenses not related to her functions.

The report said some claims were for trips, meals with friends, ski and golf lessons, as well as for the transport of specially adapted golf carts from Quebec to Florida.

The role of provincial lieutenant-governor is similar to the one occupied at the federal level by the Governor-General.

Her court proceedings have been put off until December to allow Mr. Massicotte to look at the mounds of evidence.

“I've had the opportunity to give it a cursory glance,” he said. “We're talking about several boxes of documents because the investigation looked at 10 years of public administration.”

Ms. Thibault, 70, was not present in court Tuesday.

Mr. Massicotte said he is confident she will be able to give her side of the story.

“It's obviously not very pleasant for her,” he said. “But I believe she has total confidence the justice system will do its job and that she will have the opportunity to explain herself.”

Ms. Thibault has been charged with two counts of breach of trust, two of fraud and two related to false or counterfeit documents.

Ms. Thibault appeared last year before a Quebec legislature committee commissioned by Renaud Lachance, the province's auditor general.

Ms. Thibault told the committee she spent the money on security and transportation and added she was the victim of a disgraceful smear campaign by scandal-hungry media.

She referred several times to her paraplegic status in justifying the high costs related to her travel and security.

She also said it was natural for taxpayers to foot the bill for her personal trips, meals she had with friends, office parties and the ski and golf lessons.

Quebec Justice Minister Kathleen Weil said last month she is also looking at the possibility of initiating civil action against Ms. Thibault.