The Panamanian prosecutor’s office announced on Friday, July 5, that it is appealing the acquittal handed down a week ago to twenty-eight defendants accused of money laundering in the “Panama Papers” and “Lava Jato” cases. “The Second Office of the Prosecutor against Organized Crime has announced (…) an appeal against the acquittal sentence in the cases known as Lava Jato and Panama Papers,” the prosecutor’s office wrote on X.
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“ The Second Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime announced (…) an appeal against the acquittal sentence in the cases known as Lava Jato and Panama Papers. ” wrote the prosecution on X.
THE June 28a Panamanian court has “ 28 people accused of violating economic order through money laundering acquitted “, including the founders of the law firm at the center of these scandals, Ramon Fonseca, who died on May 9 at the age of 71, and Jürgen Mossack. Twenty-seven people had been on trial since April 8in Panama, as part of the “Panama Papers” investigation, led by the journalistic consortium Ciji (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
In 2016, Ciji revealed that prominent figures from around the world had engaged in tax evasion and money laundering through the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. Investigative journalists relied on the leak of 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca itself.
A maximum sentence of twelve years in prison had been requested against Ramon Fonseca and Jürgen Mossack, whose firm had been used, in the context of the “Panama Papers”, by personalities from all over the world, heads of state, government, sportsmen and artists, to launder money.
All defendants in the “Lava Jato” case also acquitted
In her June 28 ruling, Judge Baloisa Marquinez also acquitted all defendants in the related “Lava Jato” case, involving Mossack Fonseca, Brazilian companies such as construction giant Odebrecht – renamed Novonor – and officials from several Latin American countries.
Since the facts alleged and the accused are the same in both cases, Baloisa Marquinez treated them together. Jürgen Mossack, 76, said on Wednesday, July 3, that he woke up from a ” nightmare ” after his acquittal. Because of these scandals, his office was closed, senior officials were forced to resign and others were convicted.
Panama’s new president, Jose Raul Mulinosaid on Monday July 1 that the “Panama Papers” affair was a ” international hoax ” set up to harm the financial system of his country. The incriminated lawyers gave the same speech, without giving details on this alleged conspiracy.
The Ciji, for its part, defended its publications: ” By revealing hidden truths, as we did in the Panama Papers, we give the public the information they need to demand accountability and push for reform. “, said the consortium’s executive director, Gerard Ryle, after the defendants were acquitted.
Read alsoRamon Fonseca, one of the lawyers at the heart of the Panama Papers scandal, dies