"Panama Papers": international arrest warrant against the founders of the Mossack Fonseca cabinet

German judicial authorities have issued an international arrest warrant against the two founders of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Reuters

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

German justice has just launched two international arrest warrants against the founders of the firm Mossack Fonseca, the Panamanian law firm implicated four and a half years ago, in a vast system of tax fraud. 

Publicity

Read more

With our correspondent in Berlin

Pascal Thibaut

Over the years, thousands have benefited from the discreet services of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Thirteen heads of state or government, drug lords, the cousin of Syrian Bashar al-Assad, officials of the international football federation and many others have avoided paying taxes or putting in dirty money safe until the publication in April 2016 of the “ 

Panama papers

 ”

11.5 million archives of the Mossack Fonseca cabinet, published by media around the world.

Subsequently, at least 150 investigations were opened around the world. 

According to information from the German press, the Cologne prosecutor's office has issued an international arrest warrant against the two founders of the Panamanian cabinet who could be arrested if they attempt to enter European soil.

But their country does not extradite its nationals.

Cologne investigators, however, hope that Jürgen Mossack, of German origin, might want to see his family again.

By engaging and cooperating with German justice, he would see his sentence reduced and escape prosecution for the same reasons in the United States.

The “Panama Papers” scandal has led to numerous lawsuits around the world.

But those who set up this efficient system have not had to answer for their actions despite investigations in their own country.

► See also: 

Panama papers: Mossack-Fonseca, a cabinet in the shadow of power in Panama

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Taxation

  • Corruption

  • Panama Papers