Hollinger report could be critical to prosecution

IT MAY not have big floppy ears, but a thick book in play at the criminal fraud trial of fallen media mogul Conrad Black is an elephant in the courtroom just the same.

As the trial resumes for a truncated session that will last only Monday and Tuesday, jurors already know the report from an internal company committee exists, but cannot hear the conclusions reached in its 500-plus pages of damning accusations.

It details how Mr Black and his associates supposedly sucked millions of dollars from Hollinger International through a slurry of excessive management fees, questionable newspaper sales agreements and executive jet-setting.