Conrad Black is a liar and thief: prosecutor (AFP)

Conrad Black is a liar and thief: prosecutor

by Mira Oberman

1 hour, 30 minutes ago

CHICAGO (AFP) - Fallen media baron Conrad Black is a liar and thief,
a prosecutor said Tuesday in opening statements of a fraud trial in
which Black and three associates are accused of pocketing 60 million
dollars.

"Bank robbers wear masks and use a gun," prosecutor Jeffrey Cramer
told the jury. "But these men wore suits... these four men committed
their crimes by falsifying documents to make it look like normal
business dealings. It was theft. It was fraud. It was a crime."

Cramer said the crime began when Black's vast media empire began
selling off hundreds of smaller community newspapers in order to
focus on its larger titles like Britain's prestigious Daily Telegraph,
Jerusalem Post and Chicago Sun-Times.

"These four decided they would take the proceeds from those sales
andvput them in their pocket," Cramer said.

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