Bush reverses pardon of developer

Published December 26, 2008

WASHINGTON, Dec 25: US President George Bush on Wednesday rescinded his pardon announced a day earlier of a New York real estate developer, the White House said, after new information came to light about the man accused of fleecing hundreds of homebuyers.

Isaac Toussie was one of 19 people whose names were put forward Tuesday for clemency by the outgoing president.

“Based on information that has subsequently come to light, the president has directed the pardon attorney not to execute and deliver a grant of clemency to Mr. Toussie,” the White House said in a statement.

It did not provide details on the new “information,” but said “the pardon attorney has not provided a recommendation on Mr Toussie’s case because it was filed less than five years from completion of his sentence.”

Toussie pleaded guilty in 2001 to making false statements about mortgage applications and lying to federal officials, and the following year pleaded guilty to mail fraud relating to the purchase of a plot of land in Brooklyn.—AFP

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