Aide: Black funneled money to execs

CHICAGO, May 9 (UPI) -- A deputy to Conrad Black testified in Chicago the embattled former media mogul suggested company money be funneled to executives.

F. David Radler said during his second day of testimony in federal court Black suggested millions set aside for Chicago-based Hollinger International's publicity funds be given to top executives close to Black and companies he controlled, The Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

Radler described Black's alleged plan to loot the company through fraudulent non-competition agreements with buyers of the company's newspapers. Radler described his own involvement in the alleged fraud as passive.

"He suggested that we insert ourselves in the non-compete process, and I agreed," Radler said.

Radler admitted to helping Black hide payments to the company's then-board of directors, which included former Illinois Gov. James Thompson.

"I didn't like the transactions," he said. "I should have said something."