The day after he testified that sponsorship program money was funnelled to Liberal party volunteers, one of the party's top Quebec organizers is dismissing suggestions that he pocketed cash slated for party workers.

In a relentless line of questioning, Liberal party lawyer Doug Mitchell pressed Benoit Corbeil on the details of his personal finances.

Corbeil, who ran the Liberal party's Quebec wing from 1999 to 2001, steadfastly denied Mitchell's suggestions that he had personally profited from the sponsorship kickbacks.

In his testimony at Justice John Gomery's inquiry in Montreal the day before, Corbeil said that he passed to election volunteers an alleged $50,000 in cash given to him by Jean Brault.

While cross-examining Corbeil, Mitchell suggested he never passed that money along.

"It's possible ... that I will ask you to conclude that Mr. Corbeil pocketed (the cash) instead of giving the money to the party that he had received from Mr. Brault," Mitchell told the commission, noting Corbeil's renovated home, Bombardier boat, pair of Ski-Doos and chalet.

Corbeil's lawyer objected to the questions, suggesting they were an invasion of privacy.

Justice Gomery allowed them, however, with a warning.

"It's pertinent but this is not a witch hunt, either," he said.

On Tuesday, Corbeil also claimed that then-public works minister Alfonso Gagliano ran a team of 30 "fake volunteers."

"There were two sections at the headquarters -- there was the registered section, where I worked, and there was the unregistered section," said Corbeil.

"Anyone who says they weren't aware of it... either they've lost their memory or they aren't telling the truth. Can I be any clearer?"

On Monday, Corbeil named nine workers as having been paid from a $50,000 cash donation by ad executive Jean Brault.

A lawyer for three of the named workers threatened to sue if the allegations weren't retracted, but Corbeil refused.

When he returned to the stand Tuesday morning, Mitchell pointed that one of those named workers was on salary at a communications firm during the campaign.

Corbeil said there was nothing to stop a salaried staffer from receiving cash under the table.

Watching developments in Montreal, CTV's Jed Kahane said Corbeil's patience was clearly tested by the day's questions.

"He really tried to defend himself," Kahane said. "He's going to stand by it no matter how much pressure he's under."

Corbeil's testimony appears to support allegations made by his predecessor Michel Beliveau and Groupaction executive Brault, both of whom previously told the inquiry about underground Liberal fundraising activities in the 1990s.

But Corbeil denied Brault's claims that he and other top Liberals badgered him repeatedly for money.

Last month, Corbeil grabbed headlines when he alleged that the party not only channeled cash kickbacks to "fake" campaign volunteers, but also awarded some with judicial appointments.

When Corbeil tried to take his testimony further and talk about political interference by top Liberals beyond the sponsorship program, Justice Gomery would not allow it, Kahane reported.

He said discussions about the appointment of judges was far beyond his mandate.

With a report from CTV's Jed Kahane and files from The Canadian Press