An expose of bad businesses and their unethical practices

Conrad Black, a Canadian news press baron who once oversaw the operations of the world’s third largest newspaper chain, has been convicted of fraud. The charges upon which he was convicted are connected to removing 13 boxes of documents from his offices in Canada before they could be seized. He was sentenced to six and one-half years in prison for his offense.

We will probably never know the extent of the fraudulent behavior in which Black indulged over the years. That was, after all, the point of removing all of those documents from his offices. Since his conviction, Black has indulged in a bit of bizarre behavior, which has succeeded in keeping him in the limelight. The reason for this behavior is unclear.

What is clear is that Mr. Black and several fellow executives had absconded with 32 million dollars in illegal payments. Most of this large sum was money that should have gone to shareholder. Conrad Black has earned his place on the Bad Business Wall of Infamy. Perhaps the loss of almost seven years of his life and a fine of $125,000 will convince him to clean up his business ethics, although his recent erratic behavior seems to make that outcome less likely.