Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 18, 2007, Winnipeg, Manitoba A12 world Winnipeg free press tuesday december 18, 2007 Black bashes Radler As plea Deal okd sex partner sentenced to 29 months let Radler a agreed to sentence stand by Romina Maurino but opened the door to a possible c increase in jail in remarks she made hic ago ? David Radler was when she sentenced his former part sentenced to two years and five Ner Black last week. Months in prison monday for Radler was the prosecutions Star committing fraud and bilking witness at Blacks trial but his Testi investors of millions of dollars ? Mony was far from Stellar its vague crimes that his Long time business Ness and sometimes contradictory partner Conrad Black called distress nature appearing even to exasperate ing in a biting email in which he main the prosecution. Trained his own innocence. Nevertheless it was enough to con Radler apologized to a Chicago court next Black to a for his actions in deals made by the for scheme in i have no com Mer Hollinger International Media which top exec ment on David Empire that he and Black led. Tives of the his plea bargain and agreement to Radler a sen Hollinger testify against Black landed him a jail International tence other sentence less than half the six and a Media Empire half year term Black received a week than that it is pocketed Mil ago. Lions of dollars distressing that on hearing of the sentence Black in payments a commercial convicted of pocketing millions in that should deals made by Hollinger had Little to associate of so have gone to say of his former Friend. Shareholders. Many years i have no comment on David ? y o u Radler a sentence other than that it committed breached your is distressing that a commercial Asso duty. You took crimes cite of so Many years committed a lot of Money ? Conrad Black crimes Black said in an email to the from Hollinger Canadian press. International i Don to consider that my sentence St. Eve told Radler 65, adding that she was reduced since i know that i am was initially surprised government not guilty i am confident of the lawyers agreed to the lenient 29-month sentence Given that Radler admitted Radler a sentence secured in 2005 to taking part in a $30-million fraud in a plea bargain with . Prosecutors scheme. For testimony against the former press you committed a very serious Baron at his fraud and obstruction trial crime but you certainly tried to right was confirmed monday by judge Amy your wrongs by paying Back Restito St. Eve. Tion which goes a Long Way and St. Eve had been widely expected to you be co operated with the a relaxed Radler apologized As the plea bargain was confirmed. I tried to Lead a life that was honest. A life that would not bring shame or disappointment or embarrassment to my family he said in a statement to the court. Under the Deal Radler must also pay a us$250,000 Fine and is to present himself to Start serving the sentence on feb. 25. The jail time will be Fol Lowed by two years of supervised release. He has settled lawsuits with Sun times Media group formerly Hollinger International and paid Back us$63.4 million just before the trial started. To Date Radler and the companies he has been involved with have paid Back about us$72 million to Sun times. While Black focused on trying to shape the Public perception of the trial and used his millions to help pay a Bat Tery of lawyers Radler has been settling his debts and going Back to the newspaper business. Three months before the trial started Radler set up a private company headed by his daughter and a Long time associate that operates four daily newspapers and five weeklies in Rhode Island. He is said to still have millions of dollars of net Worth even though he has paid out tens of millions in penal ties. After his sentence Radler declined comment outside court and his lawyer said he would not talk about Black. Whatever thoughts he has about Black Are not thoughts i a going to share with you Anton Valukas said with a laugh. He added Radler would serve his time and put together the pieces of his Radler a partnership with Black began in 1969, when the two men bought the Sherbrooke record with their Friend Peter White. ? the Canadian press Canadian freed from Dubai prison in amnesty by Abdul Lateef a Canadian sentenced in Dubai earlier this year to four years in prison on drug charges has been pardoned by the ruler of the emirate raising Hopes that he could be Back in Canada to spend the Holiday sea son with family and friends. Bert Tatham 35, of Vancouver was among hundreds of prison ers pardoned by Sheik Moham mad bin Rashid Al Mak Toum As part of an eid amnesty a court source in the United Arab emirates told the Canadian press on monday. It is common for rulers of the Gulf countries to declare amnesties during islamic festivals and eid Al aha is celebrated this week Tatham a family confirmed that they have been told he has been pardoned. Tatham is a former United nations worker who was returning to Canada from Afghanistan when he was arrested. At the time he was employed in Afghanistan by an american company hired by the . State department. The official news Agency Wam reported earlier monday that Sheik Moham mad who is also the prime minister of the , had pardoned 377 inmates of Dubai prisons. Tatham was arrested april 23 at Dubai International Airport during a Stopover after being caught with 0.6 Grams of hashish and two poppy bulbs. He was sentenced to four years in jail june 19. At the time the judge said Tatham must serve his full sentence. ? the Canadian press raid disrupts Taliban operations Kandahar Afghanistan ? a raid on manding officer of the Canadian Battle sleeping insurgents Early monday in the group called operation Sharp sword a volatile Shari Panjwani District has been great described As a Short term Success but he acknowledged this is really a Dis a Canadian commander said boosting rusting operation. Its going to last for afghan government forces is the key to what ? a couple of Days a week Long term Security. Moffat believes the military Strong the military said 41 Taliban militants Points and checkpoints being built for were killed As a result of ground and air the afghan army and police will Multi strikes by Canadian afghan and British mately allow them to hold the ground gurkha forces and a sizable weapons in places where Taliban influence has Cache of mostly Small calibre arms and been Strong. Ammunition was discovered. ? the Canadian press maj. Richard Moffat Deputy com ;