BOSTON - Harvard University says it has launched an independent review of a real estate transaction involving its longtime fencing coach and a man whose son was later admitted to the school and joined the team.
The Boston Globe reports the coach, Peter Brand, sold his suburban Boston home assessed at $549,300 to Jie Zhao in 2016 for nearly $1 million. Zhao never lived in the home and took a steep loss when he sold it 17 months later.
Zhao told the newspaper he purchased the home as an investment and as a favour to Brand but not to help his son get into the prestigious university.
The Globe said Brand did not return messages.
Harvard said the case appears unrelated to charges recently filed against 50 people accused in a college admissions bribery scheme.
