Big Dig Probe May Turn Criminal

BOSTON -- A day after the safety of the Big Dig's Interstate 93 tunnel was called into question, a new investigation has been launched into the project.

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NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that Attorney General Tom Reilly said he will continue digging for evidence of fraud in the Central Artery Tunnel project. For now, the investigation remains a civil one, but it could become a criminal investigation.

Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff and Modern Continental Construction Co., are under investigation for what Reilly called poor oversight and shoddy work. The probe, which began three weeks ago, is being conducted under the state's false claims act. The law makes it a crime for contractors to submit invoices or other demands for payment for work that was not done.

Spokesmen for both companies did not comment on the new investigation.

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Janet Wu Reports On Big Dig

On Tuesday, Gov. Mitt Romney once again called on Massachusetts Turnpike Chairman Matt Amorello to resign, saying he will go to the Supreme Court to confirm his power to remove Amorello.

"I will ask the Supreme Judicial Court for advisory opinion to confirm my power to remove the chairman," Romney said.

But Senate President Robert Travaglini, one of Amorello's strongest allies, said the focus should be on Bechtel and the contactors, not the chairman.

"I'm going to follow very closely the attorney general's efforts to remedy this condition, and if he indicates to me that there is a situation that warrants removal, then I'll listen," he said.

Reilly said he did not want any part of the fight over Amorello's future.

"That is a matter between the governor and the chairman and they will have to work it out either in litigation or otherwise," said Reilly.

Reilly said he would focus on cost-recovery and whether or not criminal charges could be filed against Big Dig contractors.

"It is a civil matter. Where it goes, I am not going to speculate," said Reilly.

Reilly called the work done by the contractors "deficient and defective," adding they have not done the job they were hired to do -- build a dry tunnel.