THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008

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Resident Uses Home As Rezko Bail Collateral

"He's not here and he's not going to comment on that," said a man who answered the phone at 1769 Campbell Ave. in Des Plaines.

"That," is Tony Rezko.

The home belongs to Des Plaines resident Basim Dihu, who put up the home as collateral as part of political fundraiser Tony Rezko's $8.5 million bail. Rezko is currently on trial for overseeing a pay to play scheme, steering state contracts to political campaign contributors.

Under an agreement reached with prosecutors, friends and relatives put their homes up for Rezko in leiu of bail.

The judge in the case warned that if Rezko flees all of the homes would be immediately sent into foreclosure. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been named in the trial as "Public Official A," though Blagojevich has not been charged with any crime.