Companies fail to block .Brazilian mayor probe

A major international investigation is under way into the dealings of Paulo Maluf, who is accused of stealing almost half a billion pounds from the city’s accounts while he was governor between 1979 and 1983 and mayor between 1993 and 1996. He is accused of siphoning money from building projects in the South American city and using accounts in New York, Switzerland and Jersey to hide it. Four companies which have accounts in the Island, and which are connected to Mr Maluf, are under intense pressure by Brazilian investigators representing the government and the city of Sao Paulo to open their books.