Axed MTA big probed for ‘bribery’ scheme

He was supposed to be watching out for taxpayers and the MTA’s bottom line — but its chief procurement officer is now under investigation in a suspected bribery scheme, sources told The Post.

Angel Barbosa, 47, is accused of seeking “favors’’ from accounting giant KPMG in exchange for making sure the firm scored big-bucks contracts with the transit agency, according to MTA sources.

“Angel was asking for favors and doing them favors,” an MTA official said.

“They were leading him on and making him think they were going to give him things in exchange for getting the contracts.”

It’s unclear whether Barbosa actually scored any kickbacks in the alleged illicit scheme.

But the financial executive — who raked in nearly $194,000 a year overseeing contracts for everything from workers’ health benefits to headquarters upkeep — was fired and escorted from his desk by security on March 8, according to sources.

The MTA has been awarding lucrative contracts to KPMG since at least 2010 to help the agency streamline its multibillion-dollar budget and cut costs.

The agency renewed its contract with the “Big Four” auditing firm last year, a source said.

Barbosa had been the main procurement officer for the agency since 2013. He previously handled contracts for New York University and the global bank UBS.

In addition to the alleged bribery scheme, Barbosa is also accused of fixing it so that his girlfriend in the office was promoted to his assistant, which landed her “tens of thousands of dollars’’ more in pay, according to a source.

“He was manipulating documents and records to increase the salary and position for a lady friend” in the office, the source said.

The girlfriend was suspended without pay while the investigation is ongoing, a source said. She was not immediately identified.

MTA Inspector General Barry Kluger is investigating the allegations — which are serious enough that he is considering bringing the case to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office or federal investigators, a source noted.

MTA officials confirmed Barbosa’s firing and the investigation into the alleged scheme.

“The MTA took swift action after being made aware of allegations of wrongdoing. Mr. Barbosa is no longer with the agency,” said MTA spokeswoman Beth DeFalco. “The matter is under active investigation by the Office of the MTA Inspector General, which bars us from discussing this further.”

The MTA inspector general refused to talk about the case, and KPMG and Barbosa did not respond to requests for comment.

Angel was asking for favors and doing them favors. They were leading him on and making him think they were going to give him things in exchange for getting the contracts. — MTA official, on Angel Barbosa (right)