Pandora Papers; Secrets of Wealth Accumulation and Financial Violations by World Politicians
Nearly 12 million leaked documents expose tax evasion and wealth accumulation by hundreds of prominent politicians from various countries. 35 current and former world leaders and heads of state are among those whose hidden assets have been revealed.
Journalists and media activists from various countries, after months of investigation, have published the results of their research on a massive trove of leaked documents concerning wealth accumulation and tax evasion by hundreds of political figures and celebrities worldwide.
“Tagesspiegel,” the website of German Channel One, published on Sunday, October 3rd, part of the findings from this group, which calls itself the “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.”
According to this report, the “Pandora Papers” reveal aspects of confidential contracts, tax evasion, and hidden wealth of more than 330 current or former politicians and political officials worldwide from 91 countries.
35 Current and Former World Leaders and Heads of State
The names of 35 current and former world leaders and heads of state appear in these documents. These documents were obtained through sources whose identities have not been revealed, and approximately 600 journalists have worked on reviewing and analyzing them.
The released documents show how ultra-wealthy individuals and politicians use structures such as “offshore companies” to conceal their vast assets.
These are companies registered outside the borders of their operators and beneficiaries in third countries, which typically lack effective oversight of financial transactions and are considered tax havens.
From the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to the King of Jordan
Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, is one of those whose name appears in the documents and who is accused of using a shell company to purchase a $22 million mansion in southern France. He denies this allegation.
Abdullah II, King of Jordan, is another person whose name appears in these documents and who is accused of purchasing at least 14 expensive properties in the United States, Britain, and other countries through shell companies.
According to “Tagesspiegel,” one of the attorneys of the Jordanian court states that many of these shell companies are no longer active and not all of these properties belong to Abdullah II.
Alongside some current leaders of countries such as Ukraine, Ecuador, and Kenya, the name of Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Britain, and his wife also appear in the Pandora Papers.
Former British Prime Minister, President of Azerbaijan
Blair and his wife are said to have purchased a property worth seven and a half million euros in London in 2017 through a shell company. In this transaction, apparently 300,000 euros in taxes were not paid.
Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, and members of his family are among other individuals whose names appear in the Pandora Papers. They apparently purchased properties worth $700 million in Britain through offshore companies.
Close associates of Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and dozens of rock music stars and celebrities are among those whose wealth accumulation through offshore companies has been exposed in the Pandora Papers.
The Pandora Papers contain data with a volume of nearly three terabytes and are thus more extensive than the Panama Papers, which were revealed in 2016.
These documents relate to 13 offshore companies and financial transactions spanning the years 1996 to 2011. Colleagues from some of the world’s prominent media outlets, such as the Washington Post, Le Monde, and The Guardian, have collaborated in reviewing these documents.
Source: DW
