Former Hollinger exec David Radler reaches plea agreement with OSC

TORONTO – An Ontario regulator has barred David Radler, the former long-time business partner of Conrad Black at the Hollinger newspaper group, from acting as a corporate director or officer.

The Ontario Securities Commission decision is the result of a plea agreement between the OSC enforcement branch and Radler, who lives in Vancouver.

It’s related to proceedings originally launched in 2005 against Radler, Black, and Hollinger Inc., which at one time controlled a newspaper business that operated in Canada, the United States, Britain ane elsewhere.

The OSC’s administrative proceedings were interrupted by years of legal proceedings in the United States, including criminal charges against Radler, Black and other former executives of Hollinger International.

Radler pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud at U.S District Court and was sentenced to 29 months in jail and a fine of $250,000. He was also a witness against for the prosecution in a lengthy trial against his former colleagues.

OSC Commissioner Christopher Portner approved the plea agreement, citing that it was “appropriate” in light of the conclusion of the U.S. case.

Radler was not present at the hearing in downtown Toronto but lawyer David J. Martin says his client was happy to be moving on with his life.