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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Minister Resigns In Bribery Scandal

Compiled From Wire Services

The air force minister resigned Sunday in a bribery scandal over efforts to secure a $1.4 billion Amazon radar contract for a U.S. company.

The office of the presidency confirmed the resignation of Brig. Mauro Gandra, whose alleged ties to a Brazilian representative of a U.S. defense contractor have thrust him into the scandal.

Gandra cited unspecified allegations against him in the radar project, which he supervised. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso reportedly had said the air force minister topped the list of people he wanted to question about the contract.

Federal police wiretaps caught a presidential aide and a representative of a U.S. defense contractor, Raytheon Co., discussing bribing a senator to give the go-ahead to the radar project. The weekly newsmagazine Isto E obtained the tapes.