Call for fraudster Black to be freed

Former media baron and convicted fraudster Conrad Black was “harshly punished” and his sentence should be commuted by President George Bush, a leading US newspaper said today.

In its editorial, the Washington Times said Mr Bush, who has just a few weeks left in office, should “redress the scales of justice” in relation to Black, who was convicted in July last year and sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for fraud and obstruction of justice.

“His sentence is harsh,” the editorial said.

“Black has already paid $6.1m to Hollinger International Inc, the company whose shareholders were defrauded, and a fine of $125,000.

“We urge the president to commute his sentence.”

It said that Black fell into the category of a “few individuals who were harshly punished”.

“Only the president can – and should – tip the scales of justice in the right direction when all other recourses have failed,” the newspaper said.

The Washington Times is owned by News World Communications. Black was the former chief executive of Hollinger International, now the Sun-Times Media Group.

Last month, the US justice department confirmed it had received Black’s appeal. The US pardon attorney, Ronald Rogers, will investigate and review the appeal, and make recommendations to the president.

Mr Bush, who leaves office on January 20, has the power to issue a pardon or commute the sentence.

Lord Black of Crossharbour, the 64-year-old former Daily Telegraph owner and once-powerful chief executive of the Hollinger newspaper empire, started his jail term in a Florida prison in March.