Former president of Hollinger International David Radler, who
partnered Conrad Black in running their newspaper empire, has accepted
a prison sentence of two years and five months for his part in defrauding the company of $32m.
Radler pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against Lord Black.
The acceptance comes as part of plea bargaining, but he will not be sentenced until his co-operation is complete.
The deal also includes a fine of $250,000.
Radler’s
plea agreement does not name Black, but refers to the chairman of both
Hollinger Inc. and Hollinger International. Black was chairman of
Hollinger International until January 2004 and of Hollinger Inc. until
November 2004.
The agreement says: “It was part of the scheme
that ‘officials’, including Radler, the chairman and others, repeatedly
abused their authority… in order to fraudulently benefit themselves.”
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