THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON — An updated edition of a biography on former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington says it wasn’t Glen Sather who put up $1 million bail to get the businessman out of a California jail last year.
"I’d Trade Him Again," written by Terry McConnell and J’Lyn Nye with the cooperation of Pocklington, says the money came from current Oilers owner Daryl Katz.
CTV News says a Katz Group spokesperson has confirmed that Sather approached Katz about putting up the bail, though Sather was technically the one who posted the money to the courts.
The spokesperson says Katz put up the cash out of respect for Sather, president and general manager of the New York Rangers, and not because he has any relationship with Pocklington.
Sather was general manager of the Oilers when Pocklington owned the team.
Pocklington was expected to be sentenced last week in California after he pleaded guilty to a perjury charge but his sentencing has been postponed until Oct. 27.
Court documents submitted by U.S. prosecutors recommend that Pocklington should serve six months under house arrest.
The documents also suggested that Pocklington serve two years probation and complete 100 hours of community service for his crime.
Back in late May, the 68-year-old businessman pleaded guilty to perjury in a California courtroom. The deal was said to help Pocklington avoid jail time.
The former Edmonton Oilers owner agreed to plead guilty to perjury after confessing he hid two bank accounts and did not reveal he had two storage units.
In the documents federal prosecutors state: "Lying to the bankruptcy court in a sworn statement detailing financial affairs is a serious offence … failing to disclose what would appear to be the primary bank accounts with which the defendant was paying he and his wife’s living expenses is significant."
Pocklington has continued to claim he never lied, but instead took some bad legal advice.
(CTV Edmonton)
