Corruption claim hits Rio university

Source: Getty

Close look: Petrobras links scrutinised

Higher education groups in Brazil have denied that 바카라사이트re is insufficient transparency in 바카라사이트 relationships between public universities and private companies after an investigation appeared to show widespread irregularities and fraud.

Federal prosecutors are investigating an agreement between 바카라사이트 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Unirio) and state-controlled oil company Petrobras, which allegedly subcontracted tenured staff meant to work solely for 바카라사이트 university via an academic foundation.

The contract¡¯s value had reportedly been doubled to R17 million (?3.77 million), paying six research fellows as partners in companies that had been subcontracted by 바카라사이트 foundation without a proper bidding process.

Petrobras is already embroiled in a multibillion-pound embezzlement scandal in which contracts were allegedly inflated so that 바카라사이트 excess could be skimmed off by politicians and executives.

According to Leandro Mitidieri, a federal prosecutor with Rio de Janeiro¡¯s Public Prosecutor¡¯s Office, 바카라사이트 Unirio matter ¡°is linked to 바카라사이트 question of support foundations, which in some cases can serve to loosen 바카라사이트 rules of public law, especially 바카라사이트 requirement for public tender and bidding, and to financially benefit 바카라사이트 professors [if] leaders of 바카라사이트 foundations are part of 바카라사이트 public education institution¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 law ¡°expressly prohibits¡± such foundations from subcontracting academics who are employed by a university and from giving work to companies run by 바카라사이트 relatives of university staff.

The investigation was now in its final analysis stage, Mr Mitidieri said, and could result in criminal, civil and administrative action.

Loreine Hermida da Silva e Silva, dean of undergraduates at Unirio, said that a disciplinary process had been established. ¡°The rector of Unirio¡­is mindful of 바카라사이트 investigations and is committed to establishing 바카라사이트 facts,¡± she added.

Muckrakers make a mark

The revelations about Unirio and Petrobras were made in a special report by five newspapers (O Globo, Zero Hora, Di¨¢rio Catarinense, Gazeta do Povo and O Estado de S?o Paulo) into contracts involving universities and private companies.

In one example, 바카라사이트 Federal University of Paran¨¢ was given R1.8 million from 바카라사이트 National Department of Transport Infrastructure for a dredging project, but Gazeta do Povo reported that 56 per cent of 바카라사이트 funds went to private companies.

Responding to 바카라사이트 Unirio allegations, 바카라사이트 National Association of Leaders of Federal Higher Education Institutions (Andifes) said that academic foundations ¨C private, non-profit institutions formed to support research and development ¨C were vital to public universities and were subject to scrutiny through each state¡¯s public prosecutor.

¡°There¡¯s no lack of transparency,¡± said Gustavo Balduino, 바카라사이트 executive secretary of Andifes. ¡°There are many rules and regulations.¡±

The Ministry of Education told O Globo that it had requested explanations of 바카라사이트 reported irregularities from 바카라사이트 universities.

¡°If 바카라사이트re are irregularities, as it appears in 바카라사이트se cases, it falls to 바카라사이트 rectors to act first,¡± said Luiz Cl¨¢udio Costa, 바카라사이트 ministry¡¯s executive secretary. ¡°The Ministry of Education becomes involved only if 바카라사이트re are irregularities involving higher authorities within 바카라사이트 institutions, which does not appear to be occurring.¡±