Friday, June 24, 2011

Black going back to the clink

Looks like Lord Conrad Black couldn't catch a break after all.    US Federal Judge Amy St. Eve, who originally sentenced Black to 6½ years in prison on fraud and obstruction of justice, had the case remanded to her after the US Supreme Court narrowed the definition of deprivation of "honest services."

Judge St. Eve did make mention of the fact that she received loads of mail from Black's fellow inmates noting he was more than a model prisoner, and his work as an in-jail teacher as well as empathizing with the circumstances that got his fellow prisoners in trouble did ameliorate her previous and very negative comments about him (i.e. how his conduct put "everything at risk").   But, noting that Black still hasn't taken full responsibility for his actions at Hollinger, St. Eve reduced the sentence to 3½ years and also slapped Black with a fine of $125,000 plus two years parole upon release (although more than likely he'll be deported -- to Canada or the UK, no one is sure yet).   That means another thirteen months, but with time served and his "good behaviour" to date Black will be going up the river for maybe nine months at most.    Also interesting to note is that his wife, Barbara Amiel, collapsed when the new sentence was handed down (apparently she's okay -- too little sleep, she says).

Good on the judge for her decision.   The law as originally written was indeed too vague, but time served would not have served as a deterrent to others who would be tempted to run a public traded company as a private and unaccountable fiefdom.   In the end, the losers are still the shareholders of Hollinger who were denied fair value and wound up with nothing when the company filed for bankruptcy.   Black's time behind bars may have certainly softened his stance on excessive sentences and the absolutely insane "zero tolerance" drug policy in the States -- something which is definitely welcome -- but that simply doesn't make up for his misdeeds.

Frankly, the EU can have him when his time is done -- that is, if he isn't on the joint personae non grata list the 27 countries share.   I'm not sure I'd want him back in Canada.

1 comment:

The Rat said...

Whoa, hold on there skippy! If the law under which he was convicted was tossed and his main charge was for obstruction, removing boxes of documents, is what is left the your comment:

"time served would not have served as a deterrent to others who would be tempted to run a public traded company as a private and unaccountable fiefdom. In the end, the losers are still the shareholders of Hollinger who were denied fair value and wound up with nothing when the company filed for bankruptcy. "

is wholly inappropriate. You cannot sentence him for a crime the supreme court says he did not commit. I don't see how nailing Black for moving boxes will deter others unless they, too, are under order not to move boxes.

Don't let you biases get in your way...