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By Veronica Rossini
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| The trial of Canadian-born media mogul Lord Conrad Black on 17 criminal charges of tax evasion, obstruction of justice, money laundering, racketeering and fraud began on 20 March, reports The New York Times. Lord Black, 62, is charged with stealing US $84 million from shareholders of the media company Hollinger through “non-compete” payments from magazine and newspaper deals, according to The Guardian. |
On top of these allegations, Lord Black and wife Barbara Black supposedly spent US $1.5 million of corporate funds to redecorate their apartment in New York, US $40,000 on Mrs Black’s birthday party and used the company jet for a private holiday to Bora Bora, reports the BBC.
Lord Black has called the charges against him “absolute nonsense” and “completely without merit”, according to the BBC.
Standing trial with Lord Black on lesser charges are his former colleagues, Hollinger executives Peter Atkinson, John Boutltbee and Mark Kipnis, reports The International Herald Tribune.