Thursday, October 2, 2008

Former Hollinger chief Radler transferred back to Canada

David Radler, the former president of Hollinger International and confidant of Conrad Black, has been transferred out of a U.S. prison back to Canada, according to authorities.

Former Hollinger chief Radler transferred back to CanadaDavid Radler, shown here last December, has been transferred from a U.S. federal prison back to Canada. (Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press)

Radler, who in February began serving his sentence for a mail fraud conviction at a Pennsylvania prison, was handed over to Canadian authorities on Sept. 18, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The transfer was allowed under a treaty permitting Canadian nationals to serve sentences delivered by American courts in their native country, Traci Billingsley said.

Radler's lawyer, Anton Valukas, confirmed his client was turned over to authorities in Canada.

It was not immediately clear where Radler, 65, is being held in Canada.

Radler was sentenced to 29 months in prison in December 2007 after pleading guilty to one count of fraud. He was also fined $250,000 US.

His sentence was part of a plea bargain made with U.S. prosecutors to testify against Black and other former company executives about how shareholders were swindled through non-compete payments.

Prosecutors also agreed not to oppose Radler's request to be transferred to a Canadian jail.

U.S. parole rules dictate Radler would have had to serve at least 85 per cent of his sentence before the possibility of parole. Under Canada's more lenient parole rules, however, Radler's jail time could be drastically cut. He could even be eligible for parole.

Observers of the Black trial said it was Radler's testimony — although considered problematic at times — that secured the convictions against the former media baron.

In July, Black was convicted by a jury of fraud and obstruction of justice and sentenced to 6½ years in federal prison.

(With files from the Canadian and Associated Press)

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