Panama Papers: Suspected Source settles – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The anonymous source of Panama Papers has turned with a manifesto to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. It condemns the person who is called “John Doe”, “comprehensive petty corruption” as the main reason for social injustice. In sight is the Panamanian firm Mossack Fonseca, which should have favored with a braid of letterbox companies tax evasion on a large scale.

The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” published on Friday, the statement of “John Doe”. It is appealing to the population: “The time for action has come, and a start would be to finally ask the right questions.” It look very like it, that the next revolution will be digital. “Maybe she has also already begun”, ends the manifesto. In the statement “John Doe” insisted also to have never worked for a government or a secret.

“John Doe” also calls for protection for whistleblowers

In the manifesto complains “John Doe” dealing with whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and others exposed to the prosecution see , “John Doe” appeals to protect whistleblowers. At the same time it makes it hard to make publicly available register of companies. In his statement, he also attacks the system of US campaign finance in which politicians would ask for donations for people who have the greatest interest to avoid tax. The system is essentially ill and needs to be reformed.

The information on the Panama Papers were the “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” has been leaked. The paper had analyzed the data together with the International Consortium Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Following the publication in early April many media had reported about 200,000 founded by Mossack Fonseca letterbox companies, where politicians, celebrities and athletes should have parked their assets.

The publication of Panama Papers led to investigations around the world and an international debate on tax havens and money laundering. Mossack Fonseca sees itself as a victim of data theft and stresses always keep in their dealings with the law.

Mossack Fonseca was more than a cog in the “asset management”, it said in the manifesto. “The firm used its influence to dictate world laws and to circumvent and enforce the interests of criminals so for decades.” The firm, its founders and employees have knowingly broken countless laws, and the world and repeatedly writes “John Doe”.

Billing with politicians, banks and lawyers

“I’ve decided, Mossack Fonseca suspend the judgment of the world public, because I am of the opinion that the firm founders, employees and customers should be held accountable for their role in these crimes,” writes “John Doe”

letterbox on. would often associated with the criminal offense of tax evasion. But the Panama Papers occupied without the slightest doubt, “Even though shell companies are not illegal by definition, they are used to commit a range of crimes which are far worse than tax evasion,” it says.

In the settlement complained “John Doe” and the failure of banks, financial supervisory and control authorities. “There decisions were made that spared the rich and have taken the middle and low income,” it says. Also, the courts and the media have failed. First, the person calling but lawyers, accusing them of corruption.

On Monday, the ICIJ will provide an interactive database with information on more than 200,000 offshore companies online. Mossack Fonseca called on the ICIJ not to publish the data. “It is stolen information. This is a violation of the confidentiality agreement between lawyer and client is that we must protect,” it said in a statement from the Registry of Thursday evening (local time).