Scandal Mossack Fonseca: whistleblower “Panama Papers” has its say – Tagesspiegel

One month after the release of “Panama Papers” has been reported for the first time, the responsible whistleblowers to speak. The anonymous source called “John Doe” had leaked the “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” information on approximately 200,000 established by the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca letterbox companies. In an article published on Friday Manifesto of whistleblower explained its actions.

Even though shell companies were not always illegal, they often served to commit crimes, wrote “John Doe” in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. “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.”

The publication the “Panama Papers” led to investigations around the world and an international debate on tax havens and money laundering. Mossack Fonseca repeatedly emphasized, to abide by the laws. Add to shell companies the Registry politicians, celebrities and athletes should have parked their assets. Panama came because of his liberal financial legislation again in the criticism. Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson resigned because of revelations of shell companies.

. “The effects of this multiple failures lead to ethical decline of our society and ultimately to a new system that we still call capitalism, but which in reality economic slavery is,” writes the whistleblower. “The global extent of damage should shake us all awake”.

To whom it concerns with the source remained unclear. He worked for neither a government nor an intelligence, wrote “John Doe”. However, he was willing to cooperate to the extent possible with the authorities. In the “Sueddeutsche Zeitung” says that the editors had never met the whistleblower and communicates with it via an encrypted chat.

reach the 2.6 terabytes confidential data the Registry also as “John Doe” could, remains open. Mossack Fonseca suspected a hacker attack on its servers and has filed a criminal complaint for data theft. However, IT experts doubt that such a large amount of data could be stolen from the outside.

(AP)