The millionare former owner of the Daily Telegraph, (Lord) Conrad Black, was jailed for six and a half years for fraud by a court in Chicago yesterday.
The sentence laid down to him was shorter than the 16-24 years prosecutors wanted. But at least he will be put behind bars (although he plans to appeal). Canadian-born Black was accused of stealing millions of dollars from shareholders in one of the most shameful examples of corporate crime.
Many people feel that those who commit such serious corporate crimes often either get away with it or get short prison terms, yet the rest of us who may fall behind with paying taxes have the full weight of the law and state brought down on us. How fair is that?
Despite this judgement, he will still be a peer of the UK’s House of Lords, a predominately appointed upper chamber in which he could help block or approve such legislation. There have been calls for Black to have his peerage taken away because of the court case, but of course, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who may have many fraudsters within his own party, has other more important things to worry about…..