A FORMER student at Oxford University has criticised the system it uses to check donations in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal.

Ilya Zaslavskiy, a Russian who now works in Washington DC, said the university should not have accepted money from businessman Len Blavatnik and that its due diligence processes were "deeply flawed".

His comments come after the leak of a massive trove of confidential documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, which allegedly expose the offshore arrangements of public officials, businesspeople and celebrities around the world.

In an open letter Mr Zaslavskiy called on the recently-installed vice chancellor Professor Louise Richardson to carry out a review of the university's policies on accepting donations, claiming that insufficient checks were carried out before it accepted £75m from Mr Blavatnik.

The money was used to set up the Blavatnik School of Government and to construct its £50m building in Walton Street, Oxford, which opened in December.

But Mr Zaslavskiy said the university had not properly investigated claims that the billionaire was linked to "orchestrated, violent corporate raiding against BP" in Russia in 2008 and 2009.

He added: "I hope you will start this public debate by raising the issue."

A university spokesman said: "Oxford University has a thorough and robust scrutiny process in place with regard to philanthropic giving. The university is confident in this process and in its outcomes.

"The Blavatnik School of Government has rapidly become a key player in ensuring that Oxford’s research and education contributes to improve government in all parts of the world.

"Leonard Blavatnik is a philanthropist who has given to many British and American charities and universities.

"We are proud that he has made Oxford’s School of Government possible as its first major donor."