Former Canadian newspaper baron and chief executive of Hollinger International, Conrad Black, is once again asking that his six-and-a-half year sentence for fraud be overturned. He’s tried before with the federal appeals court in Chicago. So, it’s no surprise that he’s resorted to the Supreme Court. The man’s tenacious, if nothing else. Black’s lawyers are basing their appeal on the “fact” that he did no harm to Hollinger International. By the way, Black was convicted for taking millions of dollars belonging to Hollinger while he was in charge. Also, our beleaguered convict has asked President George W. Bush for a pardon. Well, what else has he got to lose? His reputation’s sunk so low that regardless of President Bush’s answer, people here in Canada aren’t likely to change their opinion of him. And I suspect that most Americans won’t care one way or the other.

According to Ben Levishon from Business Week, experts are predicting that the number of fraud cases will almost certainly escalate as this recession drags on. He cites data from the National White Collar Crime Center which noted a 52% jump in fraud and embezzlement arrests after the savings and loan/economic downturn in 1990 and a 25% increase after the dot.com fiasco in 2000. Who knows what the figures will be after this one ends, but experts say that executives will likely face “more pressure to meet revenue and earnings targets and demonstrate their ability to manage through a downturn.” It’s not a stretch to see what some of them might resort to to keep their jobs and/or stay in business. For more on this interesting article go to http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jan2009/db2009018_753877.htm

If the link doesn’t work for you, copy and paste it onto a Google search, and it should work.