Cambridge donor in fraud case

An American tycoon charged with evading more than $1 million (£650,000) in New York sales tax and tampering with evidence gave more than three times that amount to Cambridge University for a professorship in corporate governance, writes Claire Sanders.

Dennis Kozlowski, former chief executive of Tyco International, gave £2.5 million to the Judge Institute of Management.

A university spokesperson said: "The money was given to create an endowment to support a post for academic research and teaching. It was freely given in support of research at the university and has been used on that basis."

Mr Kozlowski, who denies all the charges against him, has been an outspoken critic of poor governance in major corporations. The professorship is in the name of Robert Monks, an expert in global governance and former Tyco board member.

The university would not say if it would hand back the money. "It is not appropriate to comment further on matters before the US courts," the spokesperson said.