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Businessman says ex-Detroit mayor got free flights

By Ed White
Published December 5, 2012 10:48pm ET
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Businessman says ex-Detroit mayor got free flights
FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2012 file photo, former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick makes his way to U.S. Federal Court in Detroit. Businessman Karl Kado, who held contracts at Detroit's convention center, said Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 that he was a “hostage” who felt compelled to pay thousands of dollars to then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his father or lose work. Kado told jurors that he personally delivered $5,000 to $10,000 to Kilpatrick “three or four times.” He said he also delivered money through a top mayoral aide and separately paid $200,000 to $300,000 to Kilpatrick's father, Bernard. Kado is a crucial witness at the corruption trial, which began in September. (AP Photo/The Detroit News, David Coates) | David Coates

DETROIT (AP) — A businessman portrayed himself Wednesday as a personal purveyor of luxury for then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, providing free round-trip flights on private planes, a $6,000 watch during a New York shopping spree and courtside basketball tickets to the NBA Finals — all to keep favor with the leader of the troubled city.

Tony Soave told jurors that he was uncomfortable with the arrangement but didn’t want to cross the mayor and jeopardize any work with Detroit. He was a government witness on the 35th day of a corruption trial, a sweeping case of alleged extortion, bribery and rigged contracts during Kilpatrick’s nearly seven years in office.

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