Thursday, February 08, 2007

This Should Be Juicy


It would've been enough if it was only Conrad Black under the magnifying glass at his upcoming trial. But there'll be more titilation. US District Court has ruled the prosecutor can adduce evidence of the spending habits of Barbara Amiel Black. According to the National Post, the prosecutor "claims nearly US$30,000 of Hollinger International's money was used to pay for "summer drinks," handbags and opera tickets for the Blacks, and argues the evidence is "inextricably intertwined" with a charge that Lord Black abused company perks."

"Lord Black faces charges of fraud, racketeering, money laundering and obstruction of justice. In an indictment in late 2005, prosecutors alleged Lord Black and other former executives of Hollinger International Inc. diverted more than $80-million in bonuses to themselves, disguised as non-compete payments linked to newspaper sales.

The ex-Canadian magnate, "...is also accused of abusing company perks while at the helm of Hollinger, including using a corporate jet to fly him and his wife to the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora for a vacation."
Black has repeatedly claimed that he will be vindicated at trial and he's even said he intends to take the stand.

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