Leader of hacked ‘Panama Papers’ law firm is one of 28 people acquitted
A Panamanian judge has acquitted 28 people, including a founder of Mossack Fonseca, in a money laundering case partly stemming from documents hacked from the law firm. (Image from Shutterstock)
A Panamanian judge has acquitted 28 people, including a founder of Mossack Fonseca, in a money laundering case partly stemming from documents hacked from the law firm.
Judge Balaoisa Marquínez acquitted Mossack Fonseca co-founder Jurgen Mossack and other defendants because evidence in the case didn’t comply with chain-of-custody rules, according to news coverage. A court statement said the issue raised doubts about the “authenticity and integrity” of the evidence.
The Associated Press, UPI, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and CNN are among the publications with stories.
The judge also acquitted another Mossack Fonseca co-founder, Ramon Fonseca, who died during the case.
Mossack Fonseca had set up shell companies used by its clients to shield assets from scrutiny. The hacked documents were forwarded to a German newspaper and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in 2016.
The journalism group created a searchable database of documents.
The 11.5 million leaked files led to an investigation that “exposed the offshore financial secrets of world leaders and other powerful public figures,” the International Consorium of Investigative Journalists says.
The 28 defendants acquitted were tried together in two cases—the “Panama Papers” case and a money laundering case involving a Brazilian oil company.
See also:
Panama firm obscured the trail of US funds to protect clients’ money from scrutiny, says NY Times
Hacked ‘Panama Papers’ law firm Mossack Fonseca to shut down
Partner: Massive data breach at ‘Panama Papers’ law firm was from hack attack, not internal leak
Journalism group releases searchable Panama Papers database that includes a number of law firm names
‘John Doe’ says he leaked law firm’s Panama Papers to show why income inequality is a big problem
Hacked ‘Panama Papers’ law firm is raided by government officials
