Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday there would be no political interference from his government if fallen media baron Conrad Black wanted to return to Canada before his sentencing.

Black, who was convicted of mail fraud and obstruction of justice in Chicago last week, will find out Thursday whether his bail will be extended until his sentencing in November, or if he'll have to spend that time behind bars. 

Conrad Black leaves the federal building in Chicago after being convicted July 13 on three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice.
(M. Spencer Green/Associated Press)

Speaking at a news conference in Santiago, Chile, Harper said Black must use normal channels if he wants to return to Canada, should he be released on bail.

"I've made it clear to our officials there will be no political recourse in this case," he said.

"We will handle this case as we handle the vast, vast majority of cases — through the law as it is written, and the decisions of officials. We will not interfere politically in these matters."

Black had to surrender his British passport last week following his conviction. The former financier and newspaper baron renounced his Canadian citizenship in order to enter the British House of Lords after a dispute with then prime minister Jean Chrétien.

Last fall, Black said he was using regular channels to attempt to regain his citizenship and described himself as a "temporary resident" of Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada spokesperson Karen Shadd-Evelyn said that "in general, a person convicted of a serious crime is inadmissible to Canada." That means "in essence" that a convicted felon can't even visit for a day. 

Immigration Minister Diane Finley has discretionary power to grant Black permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. But even if Finley did allow Black to live in Canada again, his criminal conviction would likely stand in the way of regaining his citizenship.

The conviction could mean a lengthy sentence for the Montreal-born Black, who is 62 years old. Obstruction of justice carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, while each mail fraud conviction carries a maximum prison term of five years.

Black could also face a penalty of up to $1 million US.

His lawyers have said they will appeal the convictions.

With files from the Canadian Press