David Radler has been sentenced to 29 months in jail after a Chicago judge approved the plea deal reached between the former Hollinger executive and prosecutors.

Radler, who made the deal in exchange for his testimony against former associate Conrad Black in his fraud and obstruction trial, must also pay a US$250,000 fine, Judge Amy St. Eve ruled on Monday. Radler also testified against three other former Hollinger executives.

"You committed a very serious crime, but you certainly tried to right your wrongs by paying back restitution, which goes a long way," St. Eve told the court during sentencing.

In an email to CTV News, Black wrote it was "distressing" that Radler, an associate of so many years, had committed crimes. He also maintained his own innocence and said he was confident of his appeal.

Radler, former president of Hollinger International and Black's right-hand man, had pleaded guilty to one count of fraud as part of his deal with U.S. prosecutors and paid about $63 million in restitution.

After his conviction, Black was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail and ordered to pay a US$125,000 fine as well as forfeit $6.1 million.

In a prepared statement after the sentencing, Radler admitted to making mistakes and hurting people.

"I will live my life with this and I'm sorry for what I've done," he said. He refused to comment further outside of court.

Chicago legal analyst Hugh Totten told CTV News Radler wasn't going to say anything that might put his plea deal in jeopardy.

"He wasn't going to do anything to screw this up. At the end of the day, David Radler may have been one of the very smartest guys involved in this case," Totten said.

Transfer to Canada possible

St. Eve agreed Monday to a request from Radler's lawyers that he be allowed to serve his term at Moshannon Valley Correctional Center in Philipsburg, Pa.

He must surrender himself on or before Feb. 25, 2008.

As a Canadian citizen, Radler can apply to serve his sentence in Canada. In that case, his time behind bars would likely be cut to about six months.

Radler's lawyers would not comment on whether they would apply for a transfer.

James Morton, president of the Ontario Bar Association, said a transfer request would likely be accepted.

"We're not talking about a dangerous person. We are talking about a Canadian. My sense is that if the prosecution did not oppose it then he would likely be able to transfer back to Canada," said Morton.

Black and Radler first went into business together in 1969, when they bought the Sherbrooke Record, a Quebec newspaper, for $18,000.

Together, they turned Hollinger International into one of the largest media empires in the world.

CTV's legal analyst Steven Skurka said Radler's testimony was extremely valuable to the prosecution and made Black's conviction possible.

"He was the window into the alleged conspiracy," Skurka said.

"Now, we have a verdict on four counts that indeed there was a conspiracy. And you know, I watched him carefully during his evidence. You can discount it but he did give the jury a comfort level to believe, well, something was going on here, because why would David Radler plead guilty, if there wasn't anything wrong?"

Radler spent eight days on the witness stand during Black's trial. Defence lawyers called him a liar and accused him of turning on Black only to save his own skin.

Radler claimed Black was the mastermind behind the plan to pocket millions of dollars in non-competition payments. Prosecutors maintain the payments should have gone to Hollinger shareholders.

With a report by CTV's Lisa LaFlamme